Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.2, 31 March 2015), October 1901 (t19011021).

Old Bailey Proceedings, 21st October 1901.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT

Sessions Paper.

GREEN, MAYOR.

TWELFTH SESSION, HELD OCTOBER 21ST, 1901.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE,

TAKEN IN SHORT-HAND BY

JAMES DROVER BARNETT

AND

ALEXANDER BUCKLER,

Short-hand Writers to the Court,

ROLLS CHAMBERS, No. 89, CHANCERY LANE.

LONDON:

STEVENS AND SONS, LIMITED. 119, CHANCERY LANE

Law Booksellers and Publishers.

THE

WHOLE PROCEEDINGS

On the King's Commission of

OYER AND TEEMINER AND GAOL DELIVERY

FOR

The City of London,

AND GAOL DELIVERY FOR THE

COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX AND THE PARTS OF THE COUNTIES OF ESSEX, KENT, AND SURREY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION

OF THE

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT,

Held on Monday, October 21st, 1901, and following days,

Before the Right Hon. FRANK GREEN, LORD MAYOR of the City of London; the Hon. Sir JOHN CHARLES BIGHAM, one of the Justices of His Majesty's High Court; Sir HENRY EDMUND KNIGHT , Knt.; Sir REGINALD HANSON, Bart, M.P., LL.D., F.S.A.; Sir WALTER WILKIN, K.C.M.G.; Lieut.-Col. Sir HORATIO DAVIES, K.C.M.G., M.P., Aldermen of the said City; Sir FORREST FULTON, K.C., Recorder of the said City; WILLIAM PURDIE TRELOAR, Esq., THOMAS VEZY STRONG, Esq., THOMAS BOOR CROSBY, Esq., M.D, and HOWARD CARLISLE MORRIS, Esq., other of the Aldermen of the said City; ALBERT FREDERICK BOSANQUET, Esq., K.C., Common Serjeant of the said City; and LUMLEY SMITH, K.C., Judge of the City of London Court, His Majesty's Justices of Oyer and Terminer, and General Gaol Delivery, holden for the said City, and Judges of the Central Criminal Court.

JOHN CHARLES BELL , Esq., Alderman.

HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL, Esq., M.A., J.P.

Sheriffs.

JOSEPH DAVID LANGTON, Esq.

FRANCIS ROBERT MIDDLETON PHILLIPS, Esq.

Under-Sheriffs.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

GREEN, MAYOR. TWELFTH SESSION.

A star (*) denotes that prisoners have been previously in custodyâtwo stars (**) that they have been more than once in custodyâa dagger â that they are known to be the associates of bad charactersâthe figures after the name in the indictment, denote the prisoner's age.

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX CASES.

OLD COURT.âMonday, October 21st, 1901.

Before Mr. Recorder.

706. JOHN WILLIAMS (37) PLEADED GUILTY to breaking and entering the shop of Isidore Newmark, and stealing two watches, his property, having been convicted at Clerken well on February 17th, 1896, as John Morgan . Thirteen other convictions were proved against him. Twelve months' hard labour. â

707. ROBERT WILSON (44) , to forging and uttering an order for the payment of Â£10, with intent to defraud. Three years' penal servitude. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

708. SIDNEY TRESKOW (26) , to forging an endorsement on an order for the payment of Â£4 10s. 7d., also an order for the payment of Â£1 5s.; also to embezzling orders for the payment of Â£4 10s. 7d. and Â£1 5s., the property of George Benton and another, his employers. Discharged on his own recognizances. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

709. JOHN HARRIS (48) , to robbery on Sarah Matilda Lavender, and stealing a bag and Â£7 6s. He received a good character . Six months' in the second division. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

710. ROBERT LUMLEY (24) , to forging and uttering an order for the receipt of Â£10; also to forging a notice of withdrawal of Â£10 from the Post Office Savings Bank. Nine months' hard labour. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

711. GEORGE YOUNG (20) , to obtaining a bag and other articles, the property of the Great Northern Railway Company, by false pretences; also to forging an order for the payment of Â£10; also to forging a receipt for Â£10; also to forging and uttering a notice of withdrawal of Â£10, with intent to defraud. Nine months' hard labour. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

712. SAMUEL ALLEN , to stealing, whilst employed under the Post Office, a letter containing 10s. and four stamps, the property of H.M. Postmaster-General. Eight months' hard labour. And [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

(713) ALICE MATILDA BING (30) , to forging and uttering a request for the payment of Â£30, with intent to defraud; also to forging a receipt for the payment of Â£30. Discharged on her own recognizances. [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

714. WILLIAM HENRI (32), THOMAS BENJAMIN (27), and JAMES ANDERSON (25) , Breaking and entering the shop of Harry Alston, and stealing 19 watches, his property, to which HENRI PLEADED GUILTY .

MR. KERSHAWProsecuted.

HARRY GLOVER . I live at 32, Wolesley Gardens, Dalston, and am assistant to Mr. Henry Alston, of 69, Cornhillâon October 10th I left all safe there; when I came back on October 11th I found 19 watches had been taken awayâI have since seen 18 of themâthe total value is Â£322âone is still missingâthe shop window was broken.

CHARLES WEBBER (924, City). About 2.10 a.m. on October 11th I was on duty in CornhillâI saw the prisoners with two others standing opposite 148, Leadenhall StreetâHenri was one of the othenâI watched them for a few minutesâthey crossed the road; Anderson and the man not in custody together, and Benjamin and Henri followingâthey went to Grace-church StreetâI lost sight of them for a timeâI saw Police-constable Walker, and spoke to himâI beard a police whistle blow about five minutes after I had spoken to himâI ran through Finch Lane, and blew my own whistleâI saw Benjamin and Anderson run across Cornhill from a passage towards Finch Lane and the Royal ExchangeâI ran towards themâanother constable came upâthey pulled up and stood behind a drinking fountainâI went up to them and told Benjamin I should arrest him for being concerned with the other men, who had already been arrestedâhe said, "You have made a mistake; I am going to Covent Garden Market to work"âI took him into custodyâanother officer arrested Anderson, and we took them back to 69, Cornhill, where I saw the window had been brokenâthe prisoners were taken to the stationâI explained the charge to the inspectorâHenri said, "After that, it is no good; I have got the stuff; I did not break the window"âAnderson said he was on his way home from the Star Music Hall at Bermondsey, and knew nothing about itâBenjamin made no replyâHenri produced 18 watchesâI am quite sure I saw Henri running away, and that Benjamin and Anderson are the men I saw there.

Cross-examined by Benjamin. I told Walker I had seen four

suspicious-looking men in Cornhill, and thought they were up to something, and I asked him to go to Cornhill while I went somewhere elseâI had passed the jeweller's shop before I saw you; it was all right thenâI did not hear any breaking of glassâI was about 500 yards from the place where the window was brokenâI did not see anybody running after youâthere were plenty of policemen there, and Henri was being chased at the same time.

JAMES WALKER (947, City). On the early morning of October 11th Webber spoke to meâI went into Bishopsgate Street Within, and then into Cornhill, where I saw the three prisonersâHenri and the man not in custody were by No. 69, Cornhill; Anderson was by St. Peter's Alley, about 30 yards from the shop, and Benjamin was by St. Michael's Alley, which is about 30 yards on the opposite side of the shop from St. Peter's AlleyâAnderson walked towards meâI went into Bishopsgate, and into the doorway of 123âhe came and looked round the corner, and then walked back again towards 69, CornhillâI then heard the falling of glassâI rushed back into CornhillâI saw Henri and the man not in custody at the window of 69 in a stooping positionâthey made off towards St.

Michael's AlleyâI blew my whistle, and saw another constable rush across the street and close with HenriâBenjamin was caught by Webber, and Anderson by Davisâthey were brought back to 69, CornhillâI saw that the window was broken, and the jewellery disturbedâI went with the prisoner to the stationâAnderson gave a correct address, Benjamin gave a false address, and Henri said that he had no fixed abode.

Cross-examined by Benjamin. Webber did not point the men out to meâI saw you in Cornhill about three minutes after I had spoken to Webberâthe breaking of the glass was about eight minutes after I had spoken to himâmy whistle was the first blown, so far as I know.

GEORGE DAVIS (832, City). About 2.80 a.m. on October 11th I was in Gracechurch StreetâI saw Benjamin standing in the centre of the road in Cornhillâwhen he saw me he got on the back of a market-garden cart, which was going westâI then saw Anderson, Henri, and the other man farther down the hillâI saw Henri motion with his hand to Anderson, who came up CornhillâI went into George YardâI saw the men pass the yardâI heard a low whittle, not a police whistle; then I heard a smashing of glassâI ran into CornhillâI saw Henri with his arm through the gate of 69âthe other men wore standing close byâwhen they saw me Henri made for meâthe others came to his assistanceâI caught hold of Henriâthe other prisoners caught hold of him, and got him away from me, and they ran awayâI ran after Henriâthe other men followed meâI arrested Anderson, and took him to the station.

Cross-examined by Benjamin. I saw you and Anderson standing in the roadâI had not heard any police whittle blown before thatâI saw no other policemen there thenâHenri ran into Lombard Street, and you two and the man not in custody ran after meâI did not hear any police whistle blown before I blew mineâafter Henri was caught you and Ander son were standing near the Royal Exchange, and 1 arrested you then.

WALTER TURNER (760, City). On the early morning of October 11th I arrested HenriâI took him to the stationâI searched himânothing was found on Anderson or Benjamin.

Cross-examined by Benjamin. I did not see you near the shop window.

By theCOURT. I took up the chase at a later period.

'The prisoners' statements before the Magistrate: Benjamin says:

"Anderson was not with, the other three men whom I saw in Cornhill. When I met the other three I was on my way to Covent Garden Market. I knew one of them; he asked me if I was going to take him to the coffee-stall. I said I could not go there, but I gave him 6d. I was waiting for a van to come along; I got on the van, and went to the coffee-stall with the man who was driving the van. I stayed there about five minutes, an â I heard the police whistle being blown." Anderson says: "I am innocent."

Benjamin, in his defence, said that he was going to Covent Garden Market, and met Henri and two other men; that he got on to a van, and went to the Mansion House; that he was going away from there when the police whistles blew; that Webber came up and caught hold of him, and that he did not know anything about the window being broken. Anderson, is his defence, said that he was going home from the Star Music Hell, and was passing the Batik, when he heard a police whistle; that he saw several

people running, and ran after them, and a constable came up and caught him.

GUILTY .âTheJURYrecommended Anderson to mercy, BENJAMIN thenPLEADED GUILTYto a conviction of felony at this Court on June 25th, 1900, as Thomas Anderson, and five other convictions were proved against him. HENRI PLEADED GUILTYto a conviction of felony at Clerkenvell on January 9th, 1900, and five other convictions were proved against himâ Four years' penal servitude; BENJAMINâ Five years' penal servitude; ANDERSON.â Nine months' hard labour.

NEW COURT.âMonday, October 21st, 1901.

Before Mr. Common Serjeant.

715. WILLIAM VICKMAN (35) , Unlawfully attempting to procure the commission of an act of gross indecency.

MR. WARBUTTONProsecuted, andMR. NOLANDefended.

GUILTY .â Eight months' hard labour.

OLD COURT.âTuesday, October 22nd, 1901.

Before Mr. Recorder.

716. HENRY MOXEY (16), GEORGE TOMPKINS (16), and THOMAS JOBSON PLEADED GUILTY to breaking and entering the warehouse of Jane Franklin, and stealing a purse and Â£3, her property. TOMPKINS and MOXEY also PLEADED GUILTY to stealing a lamp, the property of Frederick William Purcell . MOXEY also PLEADED GUILTY , with FREDERICK RINGROSE (16) to breaking and entering a place of divine worship, and stealing a pair of shoes; Tompkins having keen convicted of felony at Highgate on May 15th, 1901. Moxey, Ringrose, and Jobson received good characters. TOMPKINS, Twelve mouths hard labour; MOXEY, Judgment respited; RINGROSE and JOBSON Discharged on recognizances. â

717. FRANK WALKER (29) and CYRIL WALKER (20) , to inducing William Lish, John Williams, and Henry Warrington to execute certain valuable securities, with intent to defraud; also with LAURA WALKER(18) , toobtaining from George Stormont Â£58 10s. 9d., from Edward Barnard Â£116 2a. 6d., and from Edward Wheatland a sideboard and other articles by false pretences, with intent to defraud. LAURA, Six months in the second division; FRANK, Four years' penal servitude; CYRIL, Eighteen months' hard labour. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

718. CHARLES FENLEY (19) , to stealing a watch from the person of John Brooks, having been convicted of felony at Clerkenwell on October 2nd, 1900. Another conviction was proved against him.â Twelve months' hard labour.â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

719. MARIE JOSEPHINE EASTWICK (33) , to endeavouring to obtain Â£13,000 from Henry Ramie Beeton, by virtue of a forged instrument; also to obtaining a banker's cheque for Â£600 from William Hall Walker, with intent to defraud.â Judgment respited. âAnd [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

THOMAS HAWKINS (Detective Sergeant, W). I arrested the prisoner on September 23rdâI told him he would be charged with having feloniously married Eleanor Fuiler on February 3rd, 1895, his wife being then ard now aliveâhe said, "Yes; it is quite right, I expected it"âthis is the certificate of his marriage at the parish church at Ashton-under-Lyne; it is between William Rogers, aged 40, and Mary Ann Hopwood, aged 28âthe second certificate is of a marriage at Lambeth parish church on February 3rd, 1895, between William Rogers, aged 46, widower, and Eleanor Fuller, spinster.

ELIZABETH GAYTER . I am a widow, and live at Ashton-under LyneâI know the prisonerâI was present when he was married at the parish church at AshtonâI was one of the witnessesâhis wife is alive now; she is not here.

By theCOURT. He left her five weeks after the marriageâthey had a differenceâshe went home to her mother's.

ELEANOR FULLER . I live at 23, The Grove, South LambethâI went through the ceremony of marriage with the prisoner on February 3rd, 1395, at the parish church, LambethâI was a widow at the timeâthe prisoner described himself as a widowerâI did not know he had a wife aliveâhe has been living with me up to the present timeâhe is a carpenterâhis wife came to my house and asked for William Rogersâshe asked me if I was his wife, and I said, "Yes"âI have no complaint against the prisoner; he has been very good to meâI am not prosecuting.

The prisoner, in his defence, said that his wife left him five weeks after they were married, which was 11 years ago; that he had not seen her since, and did not know if she was dead or alive.

GUILTY .â Two days' imprisonment.

723. WILLIAM BOYNTON (22) , Forging and uttering an order for the payment of Â£9, with intent to defraud.

MR. THOMPSONProsecuted.

EVAN DAVIES . I am a draper, of 1, Broadway, St. Margaret's, Twickenhamâlast June I had a customer named Mrs. Gregoryâon June 26th the prisoner called at my shop, and asked for Mrs. Gregory's accountâI gave it to himâhe told me he would be back in about an hour, and pay itâI did not know himâhe told me he came from Mrs. Gregoryâhe came back about 2 o'clock, and presented me with a cheque for Â£9 on the London and County Bank, payable to Mrs. Maggie Gregory, and drawn by H. Westâmy bill was Â£2 6s. 8 1/2 d., and I gave him Â£6 13s. 3 1/2 d. in cash changeâI took the cheque with others to my bankers, but it was endorsed wrong, and they would not take it, as the London and County Bank would not payâthe prisoner told me that Mr. West was a furniture

dealer at Putney Bridge Road, and that he had just bought Mrs. Gregory's furniture, and that the cheque was in part paymentâI went there, but could not find H. WestâI communicated with the police, and eventually picked the prisoner out from a number of others.

MAGGIE LOUISA GREGORY . I have been living under the protection of a man who is now dead, and I am also called PearsonâI live at TwickenhamâI had an account with Mr. Davies amounting to Â£2 6s. 8 1/2 d.âI do not know the prisonerâI never saw him till he was at BrentfordâI did not authorise him to pay Mr. Davies on my behalfâI did not draw a cheque in favour of Mr. DaviesâI have no banking accountâthe endorsement on this cheque is not my writingâI do not know anything about it.

ALBERT JOHN BUCK . I am a cashier at the London and County Bank, Putney Branchâon June 26th we had no depositor named H. Westrâthis cheque is from a book issued by us to a Mr. Silcockâmore than one cheque from that book has been presented at the bank and not honoured.

GEORGE CHARLES SILCOCK . I am the son of the landlord of the Star and Garter at Putneyâmy father obtained a cheque book from the Putney branch of the London and County Bank on April 30th lastâit was kept under the counter in a leather bag, not under lock and keyâon May 5th I changed some coppers for a manâI put the bag in the same place as usualâabout an hour afterwards my father came homeâwe hunted all over the place for the bag, but could not find itâI do not know the prisoner.

WILLIAM MOORE (Detective Sergeant, T). On September 8th, in the evening, I saw the prisoner in Devon port Road, Shepherd's BushâI said to him, "I believe your name is Boynton?"âhe said, "Yes"âI said, "I am a police officer; I am going to take you into custody on suspicion of forging and uttering cheques in June last at Twickenham"âhe said, "That is funny; where is your authority?"âI showed him my authorityâhe said, "I know nothing about any cheques; I have no banking account; you have made a mistake; where is Twickenham? have you been looking for me long?"âI replied, "Yes, some time"âI took him to the station, and on the morning of the 9th he was placed among nine other men, and was identified by the prosecutor.

The prisoner produced a written defence, stating that he had been led away by others, and that one of them, named Russell, asked him to go to three shops and ask for Mrs. Gregory's account, as he had to pay all her bills; that he got the accounts, and gave them to Russell, who gave him some cheques; that he took change amounting to Â£23 10s. back to Russell; and that he did not know there was anything wrong with the cheques.

GUILTY â of uttering .âHe had been convicted on January 1st, 1900, of obtaining 16s. by fraud.â Eighteen months' hard labour.

725. MATILDA HUTT , to a malicious libel on Ellen Ragazzoni. (Her brother stated that she had been in an asylum, and undertook to look after her.) To enter into recognizances. [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]âAnd

SOPHIA KAUFFMAN . I live at 3, Bentley Road, LiverpoolâI saw an advertisement in a local magazine of a contest to name a number of birds from certain letters, not using "y," "x,"or "z"âI named 40, which I sent in, and got this type-written letter, acknowledging the receipt of my solution, stating that it had been judged worthy of a prize by the Board of Arbiters, and that I had been awarded a clock, which would be sent on the receipt of 5s. 6d. for a subscription to Woman's World, which might be sent in stamps of any countryâI believed that there was a Board of ArbitersâI had never heard of the Woman's WorldâI sent 5s. 10d., believing that a prize had been awarded to me, and got this post-card acknowledging itâ(Dated May 2nd, and stating that the prize would come in due course.)âI then got this letterâ(Stating that they were going to send the witness a prize ring, but had not got the size of her finger.)âI Afterwards got the ring (Produced), and my husband wrote this letterâ(Returning the ring, and requesting that the clock should be sent.)âhe then wrote this letterâ(Stating that the clock had not come, and unless they carried out their agreement he should place the matter in the hands of his solicitors.)âI then got this letter: "June 12th. Dear Madam,âWe regret to hear you are not satisfied; it is impossible to go against the judges' decision. The better way will be to enter one of the other contests, and no doubt you will be better pleased"âI then wrote this letterâ(Insisting on the clock being sent.)âI never got the clock, but I held the ring at their disposalâI got a copy of the Woman's World for May, 1901, but thought nothing of itâI was charged 5s. 10d. for it per annumâI did not get another numberâI complained to the police, and sent up the correspondence.

WALTER DEW (Police Inspector, T). I saw this correspondence, and entered into the competition in MayâI sent in a list of 20 names, not birds' namesâI then received this printed letter, imitating type-writing, saying, "Your solution is good, worthy of a prize, which will be sent as soon as the subscription, 5s. 10d., to Woman's World is received"âI sent 5s. 10d., and received on July 10th a ring similar to that sent to

Mrs. Kauffman, but did not receive Woman's WorldâI have never heard of that paper or seen it, and it is not entered at Stationers' HallâSergeant Fowler made out this statement as Miss Fowler, in my presence, in April, two days before meâthis is the list of birds and beasts he sent in, with the prohibited letters in themâhe never got a prize; he sent 5s. 10d.âthe answer he got was, "The judges have given you a beautiful ring, much more beautiful than the clock; you ought to get 5s. 6d. to a guinea for it with the rights of the paper."

WILLIAM TURNER . I saw an advertisement in the Irish Rosary, and sent in a list of 108 birds, and got this reply: "Your solution has been judged by the Board as worthy of a prize, and they have awarded you a clock so soon as you send a subscription to Woman's World of 5s. 10d."âsoon after that I got this letter: "The judges are making a revision of the prizes, and we award you a costly ring; you can sell it if you like with the right to the paper; you can get 10s. 6d. to a guinea for it "âanother letter says, "We are sorry we cannot change the award; we are returning the ring; it is worth more money; we hold the premium till you decide whether you have the ring or the clock"â(Another letter stated: "The prize ring was sent on January 12th; if not to hand trace it through the Post Office")âI sent back the ring, but never got the clock.

Cross-examined. The correspondence was printed; they all came from the Woman's World.

HARRY FRANK CHITTOCK . I am a clerk in the office of Joint Stock CompaniesâI produce the file of the European Colonial Agency Company, Limited, which was registered on February 12th, 1901, with a nominal capital of Â£1,000 in Â£1 sharesâthe office was at 144, Float StreetâArthur Aylesford and Henry Dawson are two of the seven signatoriesâthe signature to this agreement is, in my judgment, in the same writing as that on the company's file, and that of Aylesford alsoâI also find the name of Alfred Wilson on the agreementâI cannot say whether that is the same, because it was covered right over.

WILLIAM ROGERS . I am manager to the Western Newspaper Company, 144, Fleet Streetâlast December I had a room to let on the first floorâRichards came about it, and said that he was manager of the European & Colonial Advertising Agency, and took the room at Â£20 a yearâthe name of the agency was put up in the first instance, but subsequently other names were added: "Woman's World," "The Imperial Type Foundry," "Richardson Brothers," and "The Golden Sovereign"âthis is the agreement, dated December 7th; it purports to be signed "Alfred Aylesford" in the presence of a man named Daveyâthe place was occupied till within the last fortnightâI have not seen Richards there since last autumn, when he called at the office; that was before the date of he agreementâI have not seen him since the agreementâI go târe every dayâthe rent was paid in advance at our office; I do not know who by.

Cross-examined byMR. LYNCH. When Richards came to look for rooms I knew him as the manager of the companyâthe business went on daily, and there was a young lady in chargeâI have no idea who gave

the order to put up fresh namesâI have not seen Richards since last year or the first week in January.

WILLIAM FREDERICK THOMAS DAVEY . I am a printerâfrom October 25th, 1899, to April 27th this year I was employed at the Imperial Type Foundry, 9, High Street, BrentfordâI knew it as Longcott, GunnersâburyâI know Richards as Dalesfordâhe filled in orders, and did correspondenceâI think it was the end of Novemberâit was in NovemberâI last saw him at the beginning of March this yearâwe printed the heading of this document, and the line at the bottom imitating type-writing, but not the other part in typewritingâI saw Richards sign it "A. Dalesford "âI knew him as Dalesfordâ(This was an agreement dated December 7th, 1900, for taking a back room at 144, Fleet Street, by Dalesford, of 12, High Road, Chiswick, advertising agent, from December 25th, at an annual rent of Â£20, payable quarterly.)âI knew Nicholson as Dr. NicholsonâI also witnessed this signature of "Alfred Dalesford" by Richard.âI did not witness the other signature, "Henry Wilson"âit appears to be Nicholson's writingâ(This was an agreement of February 19th, 1000, between Dalesford, of 4, High Road, Chiswick, and the European Advertising Agency, Limited, for letting as their registered office the room at 144, Fleet Street, as advertising agents, in pursuance of a resolution passed at a meeting of that company on February 15th, 1901.)

Cross-examined byMR. LYNCH. I knew Dr. Nicholson as the governorâtwo boys and two or three men were employed at Brentford, as printersâI was employed by the manager, Mr. Sinclair, before, and Dalesford came about a year afterâhe left early in Marchâthe Woman's World existed all the time I way thereâI saw it, and the forms that are printedâonly the foreman gave me orders.

Re-examined. The Woman's World was printed at the Imperial Foundry Company's place at Brentford.

CHARLES PRANGLIY . I am a compositor, of 29a, West Street, Warminsterâin August last year I was employed by Nicholson BrothersâI only saw NicholsonâI was engaged by letter from homeâthe manager was Mr. NoakesâI saw Richards at 9, High Street, BrentfordâI used to get orders from Longoott, Gunnersburyâwe sometimes printed the Woman's World at Brentford; sometimes it was printed at Hart's, at Ipswichâwe did printing connected with the European and Colonial Advertising AgencyâI received those orders from Longcottâwe printed chiefly order forms, just the headingâI remember Richards, whom I knew as Dalesford, asking me to sign a paper; I had not time to read itâI did not know that I was taking a Â£1 shareâI never paid anything, nor received any dividend, nor certificate, nor attended any meeting of signatoriesâSidney John Mills, the next signatory, worked with meâhe signed it with meâthis is his writing.

Cross-examined byMR. LTNCH. I do not know the other signatoriesâI left about the second week in JulyâI assisted in printing the Woman's WorldâI never received orders from DalesfordâI received orders by letter, I fancy from Nicholson.

HAYDO MCLELLAND . I was advertising manager of the English Illustrated Magazine at the period embraced in this caseâthat paper was owned by the Ingram family, who own the Illustrated London

News and the SketchâSir William Ingram was the headâon January 18th this year I received this order from the European & Colonial Advertising Agency, 144, Fleet Street, managing director, Wilson, and secretary, Dalesford, for insertion of advertisements for Â£61 in February, March, April and Mayâthe advertisement appeared in March and April, or probably in three issues of the English Illustrated; then I received a complaint, and wrote to the European Company, declining to insert that copy, and asking them to change itâwe never got paidâapplications were made for paymentâI went several timesâat the time I undertook the European & Colonial Advertising Agency, Limited, advertisement I believed the company was a bona fide company, and carrying on a bona fide business, and that it was solventâif I had known the seven signatories were compositors and employees I should not have undertaken the advertisements without the money.

Cross-examined byMR. LYNCH. The advertisement was to appear after reading matter, which position would be more valuable than on the cover of the magazineâI wrote, declining to insert the copy they sent, risking an action, and asked for a change, and got it.

GEORGE BAKER . I live at Colenso House, Ashburn Road, MitchamâI am employed by the Columbus Company, Limited, of 43, Fetter Lane, the publishers of the Contemporary Reviewâour company manage the advertisement department of that paper by arrangement with the proprietorsâin consequence of this letter from the European Agency, we inserted their advertisements in March, April, May, and Juneâwe applied for payment of Â£21âwe got nothingâwe put the matter in our solicitor's handsâat the time I believed the concern was genuine, and carrying on an honest business at 144, Fleet Street, and was solvent.

Cross-examined. The payment was quarterlyâthe March account would be due on April 1st, taking the ordinary quarters.

EMILY LOUISA DOBSON . I live at 29, West Street, Warminsterâin August, 1899, I answered an advertisement in the Daily Chronicle, and was engaged by Nicholson as lady clerkâI went to Longcott, Gunners-bury, or 26, High Road, Chiswick, I believe, to fulfil my dutiesâI was at first occupied in looking over English, foreign, and colonial newspapers for advertisements of the Ornithological Contestsâthat took me up to October or Novemberâthen I went to 9, High Street, BrentfordâI stayed there some months, doing similar workâletters came, which wow sent to Longcottâat the beginning of this year I went back to Longcott, where I was employed in connection with the Woman's World Ornithological Contestâmy hours were from 9. a.m. to 6 p.m.âon arrival I found in my drawer a number of open letters addressed to the Woman's World as to the contestâDr. Nicholson lived in the houseâI found no list of birds' names, except when they were put there by mistakeâthe amount received was already marked on each letter, chiefly sums of 5s. 10d.âthe amount was entered in a book, with the name and addreesârings were sent with forms attached, stating the competitors were to have a ring instead of a clockâthe acknowledgment of the money was sent by post-cardâthis is one of the forms, stating that the judges had made a revision of the awarded prizes, and had given a beautiful costly ring instead of a clock, and that the competitors ought to get 10s. 6d. for itâI believe the

ring was sent in a little boxâI never saw any Board of Arbiters at Longcottâreplies were sent the same day, unless we had too much to doâthe letters appeared to have come that morningâthere were between 50 and 60 letters a dayâwhen letters came about the rings, a form was sent, stating that we were very sorry they were dissatisfied with the prize, and that we hoped in future, if they would go into the contest again, they would probably obtain a better result; that it was impossible on our part to go against the decision of the judgesâDr. Nicholson directed the course of business at LongcottâI recognise Richards as Dalesfordâhe came every dayâhe did writing, but not in the same roomâI have had notes sent down from his room in his writingâthey were not keptâthey were sometimes about advertising accountsâI saw Richards, or Dalesford, at 9, High Street, Brentfordâhe occupied the top back room above my office, and did writingâ144, Fleet Street, I believe, was an advertising officeâI went there by the direction of Dr. Nicholson during the leave of absence of Mrs. Fontanaâpapers were checked and advertisements looked up, the same as at High Street, BrentfordâI saw Mr. Gunnernordstromâhe was an advertisement clerk, I believe, at Longcottâseveral gentlemen were employed as translatorsâone was called Jowphâthis signature, "Joseph" something, appears to be his writingâI have been told his name was Joseph Holly backâthis looks like "Hollyback"âI bought a gross, I believe, of these rings for Dr. NicholsonâI paid over Â£2 and under Â£3 for them, I cannot remember the amount.

Cross-examined byMR. LYNCH. When I went there in August, 1899, the Woman's World was in existenceâI believe it is still in existenceâwhen not tied up in bundles the letters were put into the drawer of each clerk, for whoever they would have to go toâanother lady sent the prizesâa Miss King was employed thereâsome testimonials were sentâI sent them to Dr. Nicholson, writing across them, "Testimonial letter"âDates ford was advertisement clerkâfive clerks were employedâone day I saw a tea service, but I never "shipped" any prizes of the Woman's WorldâI saw it in the shipper's roomâit was to be sentâwe knew about prizes to be sent to different people, and spoke about themâI saw themâthe tea service was china, rather smallâDalesford never took charge, or gave directions relating to the Woman's World, while I was at 144, Fleet Street.

WALTER DEW (Re-examined). I arrested Richards at 23, Stockdale Road, shortly after 4 p.m. on July 24thâI told him I was a police officer, and held a warrant for his arrest, which I read to himâhe began â make a statementâafter cautioning him I wrote this statementâI asked him if his name was Richardsâhe said, "Yes"âI told him I should apprehend him for fraud, and read the warrant to himâhe said, "I was a paid servant in the name of A. Dalesford, and for which I received 30s. per week, and I left him in March last, and sent all his correspondence back. I used to do some of the clerical work at home relating to his advertising department at 144, Fleet Street. It belongs to him, Nicholson. The reason I sent correspondence back to Longcott was owing to an article I saw in Truth connecting me with his business, and I thought it best to sever our acquaintance. * * * * I wrote to Nicholson for an engagement, thinking it was his bounden duty to help

me somewhat, and he immediately gave me employment as an advertisement clerk at 30s. per week, and eventually proposed that a new advertisement agency should be open, he saying that the Imperial Type Foundry at Brentford was run out. He then brought out the European & Colonial Advertisement Company, 144, Fleet Street, and appointed me secretary at the same salary, viz., 30s. per week. I was not allowed by Nicholson to be at 144, Fleet Street, he placing a girl there instead. When the company was formed I became a signatory at Nicholson's suggestion in the name of Dalesford. The witness's signature named Dalesford is, however, not mine, but I believe was written by Nicholson. He also was a signatory in the name of Wilson. I have never benefited in any way by this apart from the salary he gave me. I told him on one occasion that he would get into trouble over the Woman's World affair it he did not watch it, as he was promising to send clocks, but only sent trumpery rings, but he laughed and pooh-poohed the idea, and said, 'Never fear.' Had he taken my advice and carried out his promises he would not now have been in this trouble; he treated all his clerks with contempt and merely as fools. All he did was to bank the money and stick to it; he simply opened the letters and took the money out, and divided the letters among the clerks for attention. I make this statement voluntarily, and desire that it should be given in evidence in my defence"âI read it over to him, and he signed it and initialled each sheetâI found at Longcott the three receipts produced for rent, and the notice from Rogers, the landlord, that the rent was due at 144, Fleet Street.

Cross-examined byMR. LYNCH. A great deal of money was obtained from the public by this ornithological contestâI arrested Nicholson on July 12th, and Richards at his address as he was going in on the 24th, when Nicholson had been twice before the MagistrateâI searched Richardsâhis house was not only poverty-stricken, but in a very filthy conditionâhe has a wife and four children.

RICHARDSâ GUILTY. TheJURYrecommended him to mercy on the ground that he was under the influence and control of Nicholson .â Four months' hard labour. NICHOLSONâ Eighteen months' hard labour.

729. ALEXANDER VILLIERS GEORGE (27) PLEADED GUILTY to two indictments for perjury by making certain false declarations before Commissioners for oaths, also to two indictments for obtaining by false pretences from the Equitable Estate Investment Company a security for Â£40, and from Herbert William Augustus Garrett an order for the payment of Â£50, with intent to defraud, and to a conviction of felony at this Court in January, 1895, in the name of Alexander George . Two other convictions were proved against him.â Six months' hard labour. TheCOURT, after consultingMR. JUSTICE BIGHAMand theRECORDER, granted an order for the restitution of the proceeds of a cheque found on the prisoner.

730. VICTOR HUGHES HALLETT (29) , Obtaining by false pretences from Thomas Crossland Haigh Â£3 and other sums from other persons, with intent to defraud.

MR. PARTRIDGEProsecuted, andMR. LAWLESSDefended.

SIDNEY GEORGE IRWIN . I am a ledger clerk, employed by Messrs. Cox & Co., bankersâI have made and produce a certified copy from the books of the account of Victor Hughes Hallettâthis is Hallett's pass book, which shows an account opened in 1899âthe certified copy is from January 3rd, 1897, to July 4th, 1900âI find he has overdrawn Â£4 13s. 3d.âthe writing in this letter of July 4th, 1900, is that of an employee, informing Hallett that his account was overdrawnâno money has since been paid inâto make the ledgers agree we have written it off as closedâour letter to him of September 20th, 1900, is to that effectâit was addressed to the Deanery, Gayton, Blisworth, the address we then hadâthe three cheques produced are payable to Mr. Haigh, to Lyons & Co., and to the Carlton hotelâthey are marked by our bank "No account" or "Account closed."

THOMAS CROSSLAND HAIGH . I am a cycle agentâmy private address is the Chepstow Villas, Richmond Road, Stainesâon July 18th the prisoner came to lodge with meâhe said he did not wish to go on to his hotel, as he was tired, and asked if my wife would put him up for the nightâwe took him in, and he stayed till Monday, July 22ndâhe was to pay Â£1 for the four daysâI lent him a sovereignâhe gave me an I.O.U. for thatâon July 20th he gave me this cheque for Â£5, which he wrote on a plain piece of paper, with the ordinary postage stamp on itâwhen I saw him writing it on plain paper I gave him to understand that I was rather uneasy about itâhe said it would be all right and correct if he stamped it and signed itâI went to my bank and got Â£5 in goldâI took Â£2, and gave him Â£3 in gold as changeâI believed the cheque was genuineâon the following Tuesday, July 23rd, the cheque was returned, marked "No account"âthe prisoner had left the day beforeâI did not know his addressâI obtained an addressâI called at 4, Park Shot, RichmondâI finally wrote thereâI got this letter from him of July 23rd, so that he must have written it the day he left, because I received it the next morningâ(This stated that his worst fears had been realised; that his affairs were in a bad way temporarily; that he had overdrawn at the bank without knowing it, as various moneys which ought to have been paid in long ago had never reached it, and asking the witness to hold over that Â£5, and let him owe it.)âI wrote to him, and received this reply from himâ(This was dated "2â8â1," (and stated in reply to letter of 30th that he treated the witness's observations with the contempt they deserved; that his was the only intimation he had that his account at Cox's had been closed, and assuring the witness of his intention to repay him.)âI have never received the money.

Cross-examined. I had known the prisoner some eight weeks before he came to stay with meâthe police came to meâI did not take proceedingsâI do not remember his stating that he was in financial difficulties, but he was in some love troubleâthe suggestion to stay with us was hisâI have always understood that he told my wife that he wanted to come for the nightâprior to his coming he borrowed the Â£1âhe gave me to understand that he had plenty of money in London, but that the tradesmen of

Staines would not cash his chequesâwe were friendlyâhe took me and my wife up the river, and paid the expenses out of my money.

ERNEST PATHABIER . I am a waiter at the Trocadero restaurantâI have known the prisoner as a customerâon July 16th he had a dinner there with another gentlemanâhe said he had come without any money, and was going to write a cheque, and that he had written to the manager in the morningâhe asked me for note-paper and pen and ink, and wrote a cheque out for Â£5âthe dinner was Â£1 1s. 6d.âI took the paper to the manager, and in consequence of what he said I told the prisoner that the manager would not sign the cheque, but that he was willing for the prisoner to sign the bill, so the prisoner signed the bill and obtained credit for the dinner, Â£1 1s. 6d.âhe came back with the paper.

Cross-examined. I have been at the Trocadero four and a-half years, soon after it was openedâduring that time the prisoner has been a constant customerâhe and his friends spent a deal of money there.

JOHN SURR . I am a waiter at the Trocaderoâon August 12th I served the prisoner and a lady with a dinnerâthe price was 15s. 6d.âhe asked for paper and pen and ink, and wrote this cheque for Â£5âI gave it to the managerâit was signed by Mr. Booth, and I gave the prisoner the change, about Â£3âI said, "You have another bill to pay"âhe said, "All right."

Cross-examined. I am certain he was with a ladyâI never said that he came alone.

GEORGE WILLIAM BOOTH . I am a director of the Trocaderoâon August 12th this cheque was brought to meâI initialled it, so that the cashier could accept it in payment of an accountâI knew Hallett's name as a customerâI believed it was a valid order for the payment of Â£5, and that the prisoner had authority to draw upon Cox's Bank for that amount.

JACK KRAMER . I am head waiter at the Carlton hotel restaurantâon October 5th, 1900, the prisoner had a supper at the restaurant, I think with somebody elseâit came to Â£2 3s. 3d.âhe signed his bill, "Victor Hughes llallett"âon August 21st my representative handed me this letter from a District messenger, signed "Victor Hughes Hallett"â(Stating, that he was just back from the Continent, and if the manager would accept his cheque on Cox's Bank for Â£5 he could deduct what he owed.)âI had known him before, and gave instructions that if Mr. Hallett came for supper the cheque might be cashedâI believed that he had an account at Cox's, and had power to draw a cheque upon then for Â£5.

JOHN OSTETLER . I am a waiter at the Carltonâon August 21st I received instructions from Mr. Kramer, and afterwards served Hallett, who came alone, I think, with a supperâhe asked mo for a cheque, and I gave him one of the blank forms we keepâhe made it out for Â£5âI deducted the price of a previous dinner, and gave him about Â£2 change

Cross-examined. I have been a waiter at the Carlton since it opened, about three yearsâI did not say at the Police-court, "I had seen the prisoner at the Berkeley hotel and at the Carlton restaurant. We had given the prisoner credit before at the Carlton restaurant"âI have seen him once or twice before, once perhapsâI attended in the restaurantâif

he has been several times I did not see himâthere are a great many waiters.

ALBERT BURTON (Detective, C). On September 29th I went to Weston-super-MareâI said to the prisoner, "You will probably be charged with obtaining money by means of worthless cheques at the frocadero Restaurant and at the Carlton Hotel"âhe said, "I am surprised that the people at the Troc. and the Carlton taking any such action, as they know me so well; I have dined there so often: I tell you truly at the time I wrote those cheques I thought I should have had some money from my relatives; then they would have been all right; I asked them not to pay them in at once"âhe was conveyed to Vine Street Police-stationâI searched him at Weston-super-MareâI found on him various memoranda, and at his lodgings this pass book and the letter from the bank relating to his account being overdrawn.

Cross-examined. When formally charged at Vine Street Police-station he made a similar statement to what I have read.

GUILTY .â Judgment respited.

731. BAXTER JAMES MCGREGOR (44) , Unlawfully taking Alice Knight, aged nine years and eight months, out of the possession and against the will of her mother. Second Count: Indecently assaulting her.

MR. WOODGATEProsecuted.

NOT GUILTY .

732. HARRY SAUNDERS (45) , Attempting to set fire to a dwelling-house in his occupation, certain persons being therein.

MR. HURRELL, for the Prosecution, offered no evidence. NOT GUILTY .

733. JOHN THOMAS TOWNSEND (29) , Feloniously marrying Kate Sewell, during the life of his wife.

MR. ROBERTSProsecuted.

WILLIAM TURNER (Detective, F). On August 21st I saw the prisoner at Glasgow Police ChambersâI read the warrant to him which I held, and he said, "Yes, it is quite right"âI conveyed him to London, where he was chargedâhe made no further reply.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. On the second occasion you were before the Marylebone Police-court the witness Dow did not turn up from Perthâhe sent a telegram, which said that he was under medical attendance, and wrote to the Magistrate saying that he had met with an accidentâyou said that you believed your wife was dead when you married.

ALEXANDER DOW . I live at Tague View, Barn Hill, Perthâon November 22nd, 1892, the prisoner was married to my sister, Mary Findley Dowâthis is the certificateâI was presentâI saw her on the 20th inst., when I left Scotlandâthere are two children of the marriage, which I have supported for some years, my mother looking after themâthe prisoner's wife has been in indifferent healthâshe has been living with us when not in service.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. My sister was working in Edinburgh at a laundryâshe could not have contracted an irregular marriage in ScotlandâI was in Perthâshe was surrounded with friends, and it was impossible for

her marriage to take place without its being knownâyou occupied the same bedroom with my sister eight or ten months before the second child was born in April, 1896âI failed to appear on the second occasion that the case was before the Magistrate, and sent an explanation that I was under medical attendanceâI fell from a tree and hurt myself; one of my kidneys was affected, and a doctor was attending me.

KATE SEWELL . I reside at High Cliff Mansions, Walton-on-the-NazeâI was married to the prisoner at St. Peter's Church, Bayswater, on September 25th, 1899âhe described himself as unmarriedâhe signed the certificate as a bachelorâI first beard he was married the following yearâI have one daughter by him.

Cross-examined. I made your acquaintance in 1896âyou wrote from India to me in CanadaâI have not kept your lettersâI passed the winter of 1897 in Canadaâwe corresponded, but there was no engagementâin 1898 you wrote to me from India, saying that you were ill with enteric, and had to return to England, and I believed youâyou visited at our houseâmy mother wished to know more about you and your positionâif you had not married me I should have been free of a dishonourable manâmy child was born on April 5th, 1900, and will you state that you gave me an illness, and that my child was prematurely born, and within two months of the marriage you seduced a girl, and in her trouble I assisted herâI did not think it necessary to inquire into your pastâthere was no secrecy in the marriageâyou told me to go to the devilâyou treated me kindly.

The prisoner's statement before the Magistrate: "What the former witnesses have said is quite true. After I married Miss Dow I discovered she was already married under Scotch law. The witnesses can be found to prove this. Sergeant William Ballen is still alive, and is at the front in South Africa. When I went to India in 1896-1897 I received a letter from the mother of the first wife, asking for the support of the children, and saying she had not seen her daughter for months, and it was quite possible she was dead. She did not say she was dead. I wrote promising money, and asking certain news if she was dead. I heard nothing since from them. In 1898 or 1899 I had a letter written to the Rev. John Simons, asking for the woman's address if alive, and for particulars of her death if dead, also enclosing a letter to her sister, Jessie Dow, asking the same thing. That letter came back through the Dead Letter Office, marked 'Deceased.' I did not know Dow's address. I made up my mind she was dead, otherwise I could have taken proceedings in the Scotch Courts for nullity on the grounds of her previous marriage with Sergeant Ballen. I have a letter expressing the opinion that my first marriage was null. The reason why I did not take proceedings for nullity was because I thought she was dead. I considered I was a bachelor when I married Miss Sewell. I have not seen the first wife since 1896. She and her people knew where I was."

The prisoner, in his defence, on oath, repeated this statement, and added that his wife was living by prostitution.

Evidence for the Defence.

WILLIAM JOHN PICKERTON . I am a sergeant in the Royal ArtilleryâI was in Netley Hospital in January and February, 1899âat your

request I wrote a letter to a clergyman at Perth, whose name I do not remember, and another to Jessie Dow, which was enclosed in the one to the clergymanâthe letters inquired the whereabouts of some person I cannot remember, but I believe it was your wifeâI knew you as John Thomas Townsendâyou went by the name of Colonel Thomasâthe person inquired about was a woman, also a childâI do not remember your showing me the answer, but I remember your telling me your wife had diedâI had no knowledge of the persons concernedâI have not met you since I saw you at NetleyâI had no knowledge of this case before I heard from you in Newgate Prison.

ALEXANDER DOW (Re-examined). The prisoner and his wife lived with us some time, then they took a houseâwhen he left his wife his home was broken up in Perthâwe have always been in touch with her to the present timeâshe was not living by prostitutionâshe was not married before she was married to the prisonerâno marriage with a Sergeant Ballen took placeâI had never heard of him till I came to London.

WILLIAM TURNER (Re-examined). I wired to the Chief Constable at Perth on the Thursday of last Sessionsâhe had been here on the TuesdayâI received a reply that Dow bad left Perth for the purpose of coming to London to attend the Central Criminal Court two days ago, and received a letter from the solicitor that that was correctâI understand that he did come up, and he was drugged by two persons representing that they were detectives, at Euston, and that he went back from London to Perth, and was 19 days going backâI applied for a subpcena, and he was served, and came up last Sunday.

GUILTY .âTurner stated that the prisoner was convicted of felony in June, 1900, and sentenced to one month's hard labour.â Eighteen months' hard labour.

THIRD COURT.âTuesday, October 22nd 1901.

Before Mr. Commissioner L. Smith, K.C.

734. JAMES MCCARTHY (20) PLEADED GUILTY to feloniously breaking and entering a meeting-house, and stealing 120 knives, 10 carving knives and 10 carving forks, the goods of Hugh Price Hughes, and to a previous conviction of felony at Marlborough Street Police-court in February, 1900. Nine other convictions were proved against him. Four months' hard labour. â

735. JOHN CLARKE (43) , to three indictments for stealing a banner and other goods, the property of William Birch and others, and to a conviction of felony at Chelmsford in October, 1900. Two other convictions wereproved against him . Twelve months' hard labour.â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

736. WILLIAM BALLS (19) , to forging and uttering receipts for Â£1 12s. Id. and 15s.; also to stealing two deposit books of the National Penny Bank and a pocket-book, the goods of Francis Henry Godfrey . Two months' hard labour. â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

737. THOMAS COOK (69) , to maliciously breaking glass windows belonging to Spencer Turner and others. Two other contrictions were proved against him. Four months' hard labour.â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

738. WILLIAM HUNTER (38) , to stealing a bicycle, the goods of Joseph Corbyn, and to a conviction of felony at Clerkenwell in December, 1894, in the name of William Smith . Five other convictions were proved against

him. Nine month's hard labour; having still three years of his last sentence to serve.â [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

739. JOHN WILSON (30) , to burglary in the dwelling-house of John James Ricketts, with intent to steal, and to a conviction of felony at this Court in March, 1897, in the name of Frederick Gresson . Seven other Convictions were proved against him, and he had still over a year's imprisonment to serve . One month's hard labour.âAnd [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

(740) WILLIAM JAMES (28) , to feloniously marrying Mary Ann Isaac during the life of his wife. Two months' hard labour in the second division. [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

FREDERICK BUTCHER . I am an engine driver, of 36, St. Vincent Street Islingtonâon Saturday, September 28th, about 5.30 km I walking in Commercial StreetâI had 15s. in my side vest pocketâthe prisoner stopped me and asked me to go with her-someone pulled me on one side and put his arms round mineâthe prisoner, seeing where my money was put, pulled the lot outshe dropped 2s. 6d. on the groundâthey let me go and ran towards Dorset StreetâI called, "Stop thief!" and "Police!"âI slipped downâI picked up a half-crown from the pavement, and a few halfpence were 1 ft in my pocket, but no silverâI had had two or three glasses in the Minoricsâmy head was bruised by contact with the wall, and I saw a scratch when I went to the station

Cross-examined by the prisoner. I did not want you to go with meâROZIER (192 H). I was on duty near Commercial Street on robbed, and that the woman had run down Dorset StreetâI ran after her, and was tripped up by one of the thievesâwhen I had got through Paternoster Court I caught her by her skirt as she was entering a houseâshe put halfâcrown and a penny in my hand, and said, "That is all I have got of his"âa crowd gatheredâI got the assistance of another constableâshe was very violent; she had to be held in the dockâwe found another 1s. 11d. on her at the stationâButcher had a bump on his temple about the size of a walnut, and on the left side of his face a scratch, which was bleeding.

GUILTY .â Three months' hard labour.

742. WILLIAM MEYER, Robbery with violence, with another person unknown, upon Robert Herbert, and stealing 12s. 9d., his money.

MR. HEDDONProsecuted.

ROBERT HERBERT . I live at 27, Cedar Grove, WoolwichâI am a seamanâon October 19th I was in the Commercial Road about 12.40 a.m., waiting for a party to go home to Blackwallâthe prisoner and another man came upâthe prisoner knocked me downâhe got his hands behind my hands behind my backâhe put his knee in the small of my back, while the other man went through my pocketsâhe took out a few necessaries which I had for sea, and a half-sovereign, 2s., and 9d.âthey ran down the street, and I ran after themâI told a police officer that they had robbed me, and he took the prisoner into custodyâ

I charged himâall I heard him say was that it was all rightâI never lost sight of himâthe other got away down a little narrow street.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. I had hold of you, trying to punch youâI never lost sight of youâno other man but the two who robbed me was to be seen.

JAMES THOMPSON (78 KR). I was on duty on October 19th in the Commercial Road about 12.45 a.m.âfrom what the prosecutor said, I went down Dorset Street, and saw the prisoner and another crossing the roadâI gave chase and caught the prisonerâI told him I should take him into custody from information I received.

The prisoner, in his defence, on oath, said that he was stopped and asked for a cigarette, when a constable and the prosecutor surprised him, and he was taken to the station; that he had been in constant work at some lead works, but was invalided that day on a certificate: that he had a good character, and that he did not run away.

JAMES THOMPSON (Re-examined). When I was within 10 yards the other man ran away, and this one followed.

EMMA SAMS . I am the prisoner's daughterâI live at 11, Urban Placeâabout 5.30 on September 14th father came into the parlourâmother asked him if he would have some teaâhe said, "Yes, before we all die to-night"âJack, my brother, said, "Do not come here frightening us"âas my brother got up father took hold of his throat; they struggled in the passage, and father took his knife from his pocket and stabbed himâmy brother and I took hold of his hand and took this knife (Produced) awayâmy brother was taken to the hospitalâmy father was soon arrestedâwhen my brother was getting up father said, "I will soon do for you"âI saw father open the knifeâthere was a scuffle in the passageâfather commenced it.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. You took hold of my brother in the passageâyou did not have the knife in the room.

JOHN SAMS . The prisoner is my fatherâI was in the parlour at 11, Urban Placeâon September 14th, about 5.20 or 5.30 p.m., when father came in, I bad just sat down to have my teaâhe put his hand on a knife and looked at mother, and said he would settle herâI said, "You will?'âhe said, "Yes, you and all"âI jumped up from the chairâhe took hold of my throatâI struck him as I jumped upâhe fell in the passageâhe jumped up and struck me on my shoulder with the handle of this knifeâmy sister said, "Look out, Jack; he has got his knife out"âI made a dash for him in consequenceâhe stabbed me in my left sideâI was taken to the hospitalâI was discharged from there on October 8th.

Cross-examined. You were not eating an apple.

By theCOURT. Before he struck me with the handle of the knife he had the knife in his hand, and I felt the thudâI do not think he did it with the intention of doing so much hurt as he did, but through being out of work, having a drop of drink and my provocationâhe was a box carpenter

âhe has been out of work seven weeks, to my knowledgeâhe is generally peaceable and not quarrelsome.

JAMES EDWARDS (434 J). In consequence of what I was told I went to 11, Urban Place at about 5.40 on September 14thâthe prisoner's wife said that the prisoner had stabbed his son to the heart, and that he had been taken to the hospital by a friendâthe prisoner replied, "I did it in self-defence; he struck me very hard; he is a beautiful son; he earns 24s. a week, and gives his mother 5s."âhe had been drinkingâwhen charged at the station he made no reply.

JOHN EBOR NOYLE CLARKE . I am House Surgeon at the London HospitalâJohn Sams was admitted there on September 14th about 6 p.m.âI examined him, and found that he had a wound about 1 1/2 in. long on his left side and below the seventh ribâthere were signs of the pericardium having been penetratedâthere was great danger of inflammation, and I did not know for some days whether he would live or notâthe knife produced is very sharp, and would not require much force to cause the woundâit must have penetrated horizontally, as if the person inflicting it had run straight at him, and not as if he had run against itâif it had penetrated his heart he would have been killedâhe is all right now.

The prisoner, in his defence, said that he had been cutting an apple, and had no intention to stab his son.

GUILTYof unlawfully wounding . Recommended to mercy by theJURY.âTo enter into recognizances to come up for judgment when called upon.

744. MOSS BENDON (28) , Stealing a gelding, a set of harness, and a barrow, the goods of John Barton.

MR. BROMLEYProsecuted.

JOHN BARTON . I am a carman, of 8, Alma Road, Stepney Greenâon August 29th the prisoner, whom I know, hired a pony, barrow, and a set of harness at 10s. the first week and 5s. afterwards, and he was to pay 10s. the following Mondayâon September 10th I made inquiriesâI went to his address, and did not find himâon September 28th I saw my pony and barrow at St. Pancras Railway Station, sent up from Nottinghamâhe had told me he had started doing business round Tottenham with pickles, and he wanted the pony and trap to take pickles roundâI had known him three years working in the pickle line.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. I received a paperâI do not know your wifeâI cannot readâyou only paid me 5s.

FRANK GIRDLER (Detective Sergeant, H). In consequence of what I heard I went to Nottingham on Friday, October 11th, and found the prisoner detainedâI told him I was a police officer, and should take him into custody, and back to London, on a warrant, which I read to himâhe said, "I tried to sell the lot, because I got into difficulty."

Cross-examined. You did not tell me a man tried to buy itâthe pony was in a frightful conditionâwe sent it to London.

ARTHUR GREGORY . I am a general dealer at Nottinghamâon September 26th the prisoner came to me in Coal Pit Lane, Nottinghamâhe asked me to buy a pony, barrow, and harnessâI said, "Are they your own articles?"âhe said, "Yes," and jumped on the barrow and drove to the stables, and there I saw the pony, barrow, and harness, and he ran them

up and down, and asked me Â£9 for themâI offered Â£6; then he offered them for Â£7âwe drove up the Derby Road, where an officer came and claimed him.

Cross-examined. I sent a friend to bid Â£7âI did not tell you the pony was not worth 4d.âmy horse and van did not follow you up the Derby Roadâyou had two Jews with youâthey did not persuade me to give you Â£6 10s.âyou did not say you did not want to sell itâI was with my own pony and cart when you were arrestedâI offered Â£6 10s. at the finish, and went about my own business.

The prisoner, in his defence on oath, said that he got into difficulties and was in want of money, but did not try to sell the pony, barrow, and harness, though pressed to do so; that he knew nothing about Tottenham, and that by the hiring agreement he was entitled to take them to Nottingham for the sale of his pickles.

NOT GUILTY .

OLD COURT.âWednesday, October 23rd, 1901.

Before Mr. Justice Bigham.

745. EMMA JACKSON was charged, on the Coroner's Inquisition only, with the manslaughter of Leslie Preecy Pergonde.

WILLIAM HENRY KENDALL . I am the principal clerk in charge of the correspondence at the Chief Commissioner's office at New Scotland Yardâthese two letters came addressed to the Chief Commissioner; they were opened and submitted to him, and by his instructions sent to the inspectors of the district whence the complaints emanated.

WILLIAM MOUNTFIELD (Police Inspector, R). On August 14th I received this letter (A), dated August 12 thâI went with it and saw the prisonerâI told him I had received this letterâhe said, "Yes"âI said, "You say you have purchased a revolver"âhe said, "Yes"âI said, "Have you got a licence?"âhe said, "Yes"âI pointed out to him the serious results which might follow if he was found with it in the streets, or attempted to use itâhe replied, "I shall only use blank cartridge"âI got this letter (B) of September 2ndâit is in the same writing.

Cross-examined. He seemed morose and quietâhe seemed to be suffering irom impaired health, and was somewhat eccentricâhe has a hobby that trams and omnibuses are overloaded, and has written many letters to the police about overloading, in many cases, to my knowledge, without foundationâI know that the police moved some books from his lodgings.

FRANCIS HANKS . I am chief inspector to the North Metropolitan Tramways Companyâthese letters were forwarded to the secretary of the company in course of timeâI am the person named in the letter marked "A"âthe prisoner has never personally spoken to me by way of complaintâso far ns I know, his complaints have no substance.

EDWARD NEW (Sergeant, Y). At 5.30p.m. on Saturday, September 7th, I saw the prisoner on top of an omnibus in Seven Sisters RoadâI got on to it, and said to the prisoner, "I am a police officer, and hold a warrant for your arrest for threatening to shoot Mr. Hanks"âI got hold of his hands, and Inspector Martin came up and took a revolver from his right hand pocket; he struggled slightlyâwe took him to Hornsey Road Police-station, where I examined the revolverâit had six chambers, and was fully loadedâI afterwards went to the prisoner's residence, 67, Marlborough Road, and searched his roomâI found a box with 44 revolver cartridges in it, which fitted the revolver, two boxes of breech caps, and a box of air-gun shotâthe prisoner was charged at Newington Police-stationâin answer to the charge he said, "I did not do anything of the kind."

JOHN MARTIN (Inspector, N). I was with New when the prisoner was apprehendedâwhen New spoke to him he put his hand into his right-hand coat pocketâI took this revolver from him (Produced).

Cross-examined. At his premises I found 20 note-books filled with complaints about the ill-treatment of horsesâI had not seen the prisoner before he was arrested.

JAMES SCOTT . I am the Medical Officer at Holloway Prisonâthe prisoner was received there on September 9thâsince then I have had him under special observationâI consider he is now of unsound mindâat the time he wrote the letters I do not think he appreciated the quality of his act, and did not know he was doing wrongâit is from what I have personally seen of him that I form my opinion.

GUILTY, but insane, and not responsible at the time .â To be detained during His Majesty's pleasure.

747. JAMES JOHN RICHARDSON (41) was indicted , and charged, on the Coroner's Inquisition, with the wilful murder of Thomas James Mills.

MR. A. GILLProsecuted, andMR. PETER GRAINDefended.

LAVINIA MILLS . I live at 3, BedfordburyâI have been living with the prisonerâI had a child; it was two years oldâon September 5th I went out about 9 p.m.âwhen I left, the child was in bed, and the prisoner was eating his supperâhe was a salesman in Covent GardenâI returned about 11 p.m.âthe prisoner was not there then, nor was the childâI have not seen it sinceâthat morning the prisoner's eyes looked very strangeâI asked him if he had been drinkingâhe said he had notâhe went and looked at his eyes in the glassâhe had been a teetotaler for some monthsâI never saw him unkind to the childâthe day before he had bought a toy for him, and had taken him out without me.

Cross-examined. The prisoner has always been very strange ever since I have known himâhe has always been very melancholyâhe always imagined he had some complaintâonce he bought a razor, saying that he was going to commit suicideâI threw it out of the windowâhe has always treated the child with great kindness, and has been fond of itâhe told me that some men had made a remark to him about his eyes.

TRYPHENA DIMBELBY . I am a widow, and live at 3, Bedfordbury, on the second floorâthe prisoner lived on the floor above meâon the evening of September 5th I heard a great noise overheadâit was a kind of hammeringâI went up to ask the prisoner what was the matterâI knocked at his doorâhe said, "What do you want?"âI said, "If this noise continues I shall have to speak to my landlord"âI heard the child cry, and that is why I went up.

LOUISA CHAUVERRE . I am the wife of George Chauverre, a chef, living at 3, Bedfordbury, on the fourth floor, over the prisonerâI heard a noise of hammering on September 5th, about between 9.30 and 9.45 p.m.; I heard a child screamâI heard Mrs. Dimbelby go to the doorâthe noise continued, and the child cried againâI and my husband went down to the doorâmy husband knocked, and as the prisoner would not answer, my husband broke the door open and we went inâthe child had stopped screaming then, it was lying on an armchairâit had no clothes on, and the prisoner was standing over it stark nakedâhe seemed to be banging it with his two fists as hard as he couldâbefore we went down I heard him say, "Will you be a good boy now?"âwe went for the policeâhe did not take any notice of us when we went in, but when we came oat he looked at us and shut the doorsâI was present when the constable went inâthe prisoner had washed up the floor, and had put a dressing gown onâthe child was in front of him, and he was looking at itâI did not notice what was on the floor before it was washed; I was too excited.

Cross-examined. He did not take any notice of us when we first went in.

FRANK HAMILTON (247 E). I was summoned to Bedfordbury on September 5th, about 9.45 p.m.âI went into the prisoner's room, he was in his dressing gown, and nothing elseâthe child was lying on the floorâI asked the prisoner what he had been doingâhe said, "I have done it, I have done it; it was my wish it should be done"âI looked round to see if I could see any knifeâthe child moved, and I bent down to see if it was alive, and the prisoner jumped up and said he was goingâwe had a struggleâhe was very violentâI blew my whistle and got assistanceâI took him to the station just as he was.

Cross-examined. He made a lot of rambling statements which I could not followâhe was worse at the station than he was when I arrested himâat the station he was like a madmanâhe had no control over himself.

JAMES GRAY (411 C). I was summoned to 3, Bedfordbury shortly before 10 p.m. on September 5thâI found a child there and took it to King's College Hospitalâit was bleeding from the head and mouthâit appeared to have been washedâit was just moving when I picked it up off the floorâI did not feel it move until I got to the hospital, when it seemed to draw itself up and straighten out again.

ROBERT JAKES . I am House Surgeon at Kings College Hospitalâthe deceased was brought to me by the last witness about 10 p.m. on September 5thâit was then deadâthere was a cut on the scalp; a piece had been cut clean out, about the size of a florin; both sides of the face were very much bruised, part of the nose and upper lip had been torn away, and one of the front teeth knocked outâI made a postmortem examinationâthe fourth and fifth ribs on the left side were broken, and

the sixth, seventh, and eighth ribs on both sidesâthere was a good deal of blood in the stomach; the skull was fractured on the left side; there was a small fracture on the right side of the scalp, just under the external injuryâthere was a good deal of laceration to the front part of the brainâthe injury to the scalp was a perfectly clean cutâI cannot say what it was done with.

CHARLES CUTBUSH (Inspector, E). I was present when the prisoner was brought to Bow Street Police-station on the night of September 5thâhe was extremely violent; it took five or six policemen to hold himâI charged him with the murder of his childâhe said, "I did it for the child's good"âhe afterwards said, "I did it; I thought I was doing it for the child's good"âthen he remarked, "Me kill my child! I love my baby; wilful murder! you must be mad; I thought the baby had a nerve, so I bit it through the mouth and on the top of the head to do it good."

Cross-examined. In my opinion he was out of his mind when he was brought in.

LOUISA GREEN . I live at 49, Heaton Road, Peckham Rye.

Cross-examined. I have known the prisoner for some timeâhe was very excitable and funny in his wayâI remember his threatening to commit suicideâonce he said that if a doctor was not sent for he was afraid he should do something violentâhe always treated the child with great kindness.

JAMES SCOTT . I am Medical Officer at Holloway PrisonâI saw the prisoner on the evening of September 6th, and daily sinceâI think he is of unsound mindâI think he was insane on September 5th, and did not know the nature of his acts.

GUILTY, but insane at the time .â To be detained during His Majesty's pleasure.

GEORGE NEVILLE . I live at Croydon Street, and am the prisoner's husbandâwe have been married 15 yearsâI am a cabmanâon August 22nd I went home about 10.45 a.m.âas my wife had been rather strange, I took to night work that week.âwhen I got home I found things not as they ought to beâI asked my wife to make the front room bedâI fell asleep on the children's bed in the back roomâI woke up and saw my wife standing over meâI felt a warm sensation on my chestâI put my hands up to my neckâI sat up in bed and said, "Good God, Nell! you have stabbed me"âshe put her arms round me, and I was off the bed in an instantâI struggled with herâI caught hold of her wrist, as she had a knife in itâI tried to shout for helpâwe fell into an armchairâI got the knife from her, and made for the doorâwhile we were struggling I shouted out, "You drop the knife, or you will cut yourself"âon the landing there were some peopleâI said, "For God's sake, go up; I think

my wife has gone mad, and she will kill the child"âmy wife could hear that because I shouted it outâI heard someone shout out, "The door is locked"âI heard the door go, then I heard a terrible screamâI went backâI thought the child might be hurtâI saw my wife facing the others, cutting her throat with a carving knifeâI did not remember any more till I was in a surgery in Crawford StreetâI have attended at St. Mary's Hospital sinceâmy wife had not been in the habit of waking up at night except to take snuff.

PHILLIP HEAD . I am a surgeon, and attended the prosecutor on August 22nd, about 3.30 p.m.âhe called at my surgery with a cloth round his neck, which was bleedingâhe was suffering from an incised wound on the left side of his neck, about 3/4 in.long and 1/2 in. or 3/4 in. deep, just over the vertebral columnâI went to 3, Croydon Street, and found the prisoner on the floor; a towel had been wrapped round her neck by the police, who had shown forethought in doing soâshe had a wound about 3in. long in her neck, dividing the air passages, but the large vessels were intactâthis knife (Produced) would produce the wound in the prosecutor's throatâthe wound in the prisoner's throat was jagged at the edge.

VINCENT NESFIELD . I am House Surgeon at St. Mary's Hospitalâthe prisoner was admitted there on August 22ndâshe had a wound in her throatâshe was very nearly deadâshe remained in the hospital about a monthâshe recovered in about a fortnight, but she was very morose, and hardly ever spoke.

MARY ANN WILCOX . I live at 3, Croydon StreetâI have known the prisoner and her husband nearly three yearsâon the afternoon of August 22nd I heard the prosecutor come downstairsâhe spoke to me, and I went upstairsâthe prisoner's door was closedâI screamed for assistanceâmy daughter came upâwe got the door open, and I saw the prisoner in the room cutting her throat with this knife (Produced)âI took hold of her, and put her on a chair and bandaged her throatâa constable came and took her away.

ROSE KEIGHLY . I am the daughter of the last witness, and live at 3, Croydon StreetâI went up after my mother, and opened this door on August 22ndâI saw the prisoner standing with this knife in her throat.

WILLIAM GODFREY (187 D). On August 22nd I heard screams, and went to 3, Croydon StreetâI found the prisoner sitting in a chair, bleeding from a wound in her throat, and being attended to by Mrs. WilcoxâI sent for Dr. Headâshe was taken to St. Mary's Hospital.

HENRY CANDLER (Police Inspector, D). I went to 3, Croydon Street, and found the prisoner lying in the passage, bleeding from her throatâI obtained a cloth and bound it upâa doctor arrived, and under his instructions I put her into a cab, and took her to St. Mary's Hospitalâon the way she straggled violently and tore the bandage from her throatâI caught hold of her throat and held it, and said, "Who done that?"âshe said, "I done it myself, but it was all through my husband"âI returned to the house, searched the room, and found this shoemaker's knife on the table in the front roomâthere was a pool of blood in the room, and also in the bed-roomâthis carving knife was found and handed to me by the husbandâI examined the door of the front roomâthe key was inside the door, but I

think the door was fastened with a small button higher upâthe prisoner made no reply when she was charged.

JAMES SCOTT . I am the Medical Officer at Holloway PrisonâI did not see the prisoner till October 1stâI have seen her since till the present timeâshe has been more or less depressed in mindâthere is no actual evidence of delusions, but she has been listless and apatheticâshe states that her father died from epileptic fitsâI do not think she knew she was doing wrong when she attacked her husband.

GEORGE NEVILL (Re-examined). I know that my wife's sister was taken away by a religious maniaâshe is back nowâshe was taken away by the Chelsea authorities three or four years agoâshe is 21 nowâmy wife's brother had a complaint come over him for womenâhe attacked an auntâhe was taken away for a timeâmy wife's grandmother died in an asylumâI had not been quarrelling with my wifeâwe have six children; the eldest is 15âall bar one live at home.

GUILTY, but insane at the time .â To be detained during His Majesty's pleasure.

750. WALLACE HENRY THORPE (18) PLEADED GUILTY to wounding Clara Gosnold, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm; also to attempting to murder himself. He received a good character.â Twelve months in the second division.

751. CHARLES YOUNG (64) , Maliciously throwing corrosive fluid upon Harriett Coventry, with intent to burn her. Other counts with intent to maim her or to do her grievous bodily harm.

MR. SANDSProsecuted;MR. FULTONDefended.

HARRIETT COVENTRY . I am the wife of Edward Coventry, and am employed as caterer by Messrs. Cassell, the printers and publishersâI have been with them 19 yearsâthis summer Mrs. Emma Young, the prisoner's wife, came into my service as cookâon September 5th I left Cassell's with Mrs. Young about 6 p.m.âwe were going through Seacoal Lane, when we met the prisonerâhe opened his coat, and said he would do for me or for us; I cannot remember exactlyâI had received some letters from him; and in consequence I applied for a warrant, which was grantedâon September 10th I was going home again with Mrs. Young down Seacoal Lane about 6 p.m.âthe prisoner came over from behind a watchman's boxâhe said something to his wife, then went like that with a bottleâI ran into a shop, and a policeman took me to the hospitalâI was in dreadful painâthe liquid struck me across my eyes, and ran down my face; it burns now.

Cross-examined. The prisoner appeared to be soberâI did not know himâI do not know anything of his family historyâhis wife always said that he was a very bad manâI have never heard anything against her.

GRORGE COONEY . I live at 3, Bloomsbury Court, and am a watchman in the Strand Electric Light Companyâon September 10th I was outside my watch-box watching some works in Seacoal LaneâI saw Mrs. Coventry and Mrs. Young pass meâI heard a feeble scream just afterwards, and saw the females rushing towards Farringdon Streetâthe prisoner dashed something on the ground, which proved to be a bottleâ

he came towards meâI said, "What have you been doing to the females?"âhe said, "They are drunk"âI said, "I don't agree that they are drunk; you will have to stop here"âI handed him over to a carmanâI went to the place where he had thrown something away; it was about four yards, from my shelterâI found a bottle in piecesâthere was no bottle at my box at all.

Cross-examined. It would not be possible for anybody to put anything into my box without my seeing themâthere are always people on duty in the daytime.

BERTRAM STURCH (179, City). I was called to Seacoal Lane on September 10th about 6 p.m.âI saw the prisoner being held there by a civilianâI took him into custody, and then went with him to a stationer's shop, where I saw the two womenâthey stated, in the prisoner's presence, that he had thrown something over them from a bottle, which hurt very muchâhe replied, "Yes, I hope you have enough now"âI handed him. over to another constable, put the two women into a cab, and took them to St, Bartholomew's Hospital.

CHARLES MOODY (Police Inspector). The prisoner's wife was brought to the station on September 10th, about 8 p.m.âthe prisoner was there in custodyâI told him he would be charged with throwing some corrosive fluid over two people; he replied, "I thought it was empty," referring to the bottle, "but it does not matter"âhe gave me two statements and said, "Read these, and you will see how the matters stand"â"B" read: "I am driven mad, and whatever the result, let Mrs. Coventry have the credit; I expect this will be found on my body, and if Mrs. Coventry is still alive may her beastly conscience, if she has one, sting her to death; I do not want them to have anything except an everlasting remembrance." "A" read: "The Bell, Borough Market. I am afraid of myself. This morning, September 9th, I am consuming the eighth glass before 5 o'clock. Great God! send the end quickly,"âthe prisoner said, "I took the bottle from the watchman's box in the lane; I did not know what was in it; I used it to frighten them"âhe smelled of drinkâI saw some pieces of a bottleâI gave them to the doctor at the hospitalâinside the envelope addressed to Mrs. Coventry is written, "Not done yet; bring me to Court as soon as you like, you filthy cow."

Cross-examined. I did not find a letter on the prisoner.

JOHN ALEXANDER NIXON , B.M. I am House Surgeon at St. Bartholomew's HospitalâMrs. Coventry was brought there on September 10thâshe had some burns on the right side of her face round the eye, and it appeared that some corrosive fluid had trickled down her face and burnt it to the chin; her clothes and hands were burnt alsoâI thought at the time that her eyes were affected; it appears some of the fluid had gone into her eyes, but had been diluted by the tearsâthere will be a permanent injury, and unless an operation is performed the will lose her sight, as she cannot close her right eyeâthe bottle contained strong vitriol.

The prisoner, in his defence, on oath, said that he had no recollection of throwing the bottle; that he had been drinking very heavily, and that he could not account for the bottle being in his possession.

GUILTY .â Five Years' Penal Servitude.

FOURTH COURT.âWednesday, October 23rd, 1901.

Before Mr. Commissioner L. Smith, K.C.

752. ARTHUR WESTFALL (32) and HARRIET SUMMERS, Robbery with violence on Joseph Nathan, and stealing a watch chain and other articles, his property.

MR. LOUISProsecuted.

JOSEPH NATHAN . I am a farmer, of Clarence Farm, Eppingâabout 1 p.m. on September 24th I was near Brushfield Street, Spitalfieldsâa man came across the road, snatched at my chain, and ran awayâI ran after him, and a woman caught hold of me; I struck her, and she let goâI ran some distance and fell down, and cut my face and leg very badlyâI cannot say whether I was tripped up or not; I was insensible when I was picked upâat the station I found my watch in my pocket, but the chain, value Â£10, and other articles were goneâthe man did not strike meâI am positive the prisoners are the persons who stopped me.

Cross-examined by West fall. I had a bag and stick in my handâI was not under the influence of drinkâI saw the woman after you stole my chain; she had hold of my coatâyou acknowledged to taking my chain.

ARTHUR HALSEY (354 H). I was on duty at Spitalfields on September 24th, at 1 p.m., and saw Westfall running down the streetâa little girl came up to me, and said he bad stolen a gentleman's watch and chainâI caught him and took him to the stationâthe prosecutor came up, and said that is the man who has taken my watch and chainâon the way to the station he pointed to Summers, who was following, and said she had held his coat, and stopped his going after the manâI arrested herâat the station she said, "Have me; you can get nothing; I am innocent."

Cross-examined by Westfall. You ran 30 or 40 yards before I caught you.

Witness for Summers.

MARGARET HOLLAND . I am an umbrella maker, of 7, Whitecross Placeâbetween 12.30 and 1 p.m. on September 24th I saw Westfall take something from the prosecutor, who ran after him and fell downâI ran after Westfall, shouting "Stop thief!" and saw a constable run after himâI have never seen Summers before.

Cross-examined byMR. LOUIS. I never saw her until I was at the station.

Westhall, in his defence, oh oath, said that he had got into bad company, and got on the drink, and was induced by the company he was in to steal the prosecutor's property, and that the woman had nothing whatever to do with it.

Summers' defence: I can only say I am innocent. I know nothing about it.

SUMMERSâ NOT GUILTY; WESTFALL, GUILTYof larceny from the person . He thenPLEADED GUILTYto a conviction of misdemeanour at the Thames Police-court on June 2nd, 1900, in the name of George Storms . Other convictions of felony were also proved against him.â Twelve month hard labour.

WILLIAM CHARLES BURT . I am a waiterâbetween 8.30 and 9 p.m. on September 11th I went into the Golden Heart, Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, to change 30s. in coppers into silverâI came out counting it, when the four prisoners came quietly behind me and knocked some of it out of my hand, picked it up, and ran awayâI gave a description of the men to a constable, and afterwards picked them out from a dozen others at the Police-station.

Cross-examined by Carroll. I lost a sovereign and 7s. in silverâI picked up a half-crown and 6d.âI picked you all out at the Police-station without any difficulty.

Cross-examined by Hopkins. You snatched at the money with your right hand, and looked at me for about two seconds; that is the reason I identified you.

Cross-examined by Johnson. I saw you in a public-house later on, but I did not call the attention of the police, as I did not want to lose sight of youâI subsequently did lose sight of you, and went home.

GEORGE CORNISH (377 H). About midnight on September 11th I saw all the prisoners outside the Bluecoat Boy, Dorset Street, and told them they answered the description of four men wanted for robbing a man in Hanbury Street about 8 or 9 p.m. that evening, and I and 325 H and 321 H arrested themâthey were taken to the station and identified by the prosecutorâwhen charged McCarthy said, "All right, you will have to prove it"âCarroll said, "Very good; I can prove I was somewhere else at the time"âI found nothing on McCarthy, and 6d. silver and 3 1/2 d. bronze on Carroll.

JAMES HAWKINS (325 H). I took Johnsonâwhen charged he said, "I suppose the flowers gave us away"âthey had flowers in their button holes.

JOHN STEVENS (321 H). I took Hopkinsâhe said, "I do not know what you mean; we have been together all the evening"âon him I found 3d. in silver, 3d. in bronze, and three revolver cartridges loaded.

Cross-examined by Carroll. I was on point duty at Dorset Street, not far from Hanbury Street, when I first heard of the robbery.

The prisoners' statements before the Magistrate: McCarthy says: "Between 7.15 and 9.30 p.m. I was in Lockhart's Coffee Tavern, Commercial Street, and did not come out between those times." Carroll says: "I wish to say the same thing." Hopkins says: "I say the same. After leaving Lockhart's we all went together to the Sailors' Home, Well Street, and returned about 10 o'clock, and after that we strolled about the neighbourhood together, and were just going to separate when we were arrested." Johnson says: "I was at home with my young woman till about 9 p.m. I had arranged to meet my mates at Lockhart's, and went there, and had some coffee; then we went to the Sailors' Home, Well Street, and after we left there we were arrested."

McCarthy, in his defence, stated, on oath, that at 7.30 p.m. on Septemher 11th he was coming from work, and going through Commercial Street, he met Hopkins, Carroll and Johnson, and they all went to Lockhart's, where

they remained till 9.15 p.m., and then walked about till 12 p m., when they were arrested; and that it was impossible for the prosecutor to have been robbed at the time stated, as Hanbury Street was one of the busiest thoroughfares at the time mentioned.

Hopkins, in his defence, stated, on oath, that they all went into Lockhart's about 7.30 p.m., and remained till 9.15 p.m.

Witnesses for the Defence.

EDWARD TURNER . I am a hairdresser, of 59, Dorset Street, SpitalfieldsâI saw the prisoners come into Lockhart's about 7.50 p.m., and go out a little after 9 p.m.

Cross-examined byMR. POYNTER. They all came in together.

SARAH JOHNSON . I saw the prisoners in Lockhart's at 7.45 p.m.âthey went out at 9.15 p.m.

JAMES SURREY DANE . I am cashier to Samuel Herbert Benson, of 1, Tudor Street, advertising agentsâwe had to pay Mr. Smith, of Manchester, Â£9âI drew the cheque produced for Â£9âMr. Benson signed it on July 11thâthe prisoner was the ledger clerkâit was his duty to enter it in the ledgerâMr. Smith subsequently applied for paymentâit should have been postedâon July 24th I drew a cheque for Mr. Bucknall, of Liverpool, for Â£6âI produce the counterfoil No. 46511âthe prisoner was on duty on July 29th and 31stâhe could have from one to two for lunch, probably moreâabout that time he wanted to go to Liverpool Street, and on July 31st he wanted an hour moreâon August 1st this statement of account (Produced) cameâMr. Bucknail applied againâthe cheque is missingâreturned cheques are kept in a drawer.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. You left early on July 29th and August 31stâyou have been two years in your departmentâyou had to do with about 400 cheques a weekâthe cheques must be tracedâthere was an accident on Saturday, July 20thâyou had bandages and plaster for three or four days and an eye shade.

ARTHUR SMITH . I am an advertising agent, of 71, Market Street, ManchesterâI never received this cheque for Â£9âthe endorsement is not mine.

WILLIAM WILSON . I am salesman to William Crow, a jeweller, of 140, The Grove, Stratfordâthis cheque for Â£9 was offered in payment of

Â£2 10s. for a ring (Produced)âon July 15th we received the amount of the cheque from the bankâthe same person came back and received the ring and the balance, Â£6 10s.âthe photograph produced is that of the man who bought the ring.

GRACE TYLER . I am barmaid at the Duke of Devonshire, High Road, BalhamâI know the prisoner and William Jefferson, his cousinâI received this ring from Buckenham, I believe, on Wednesday, July 24thâthis is a photograph of William Jefferson.

Cross-examined. You were short of money on July 24th, and I lent you someâyou had no changeâyour face was marked for a week.

EDWARD JAMES MARSH , the prosecutor's clerk, here produced the postage book, which showed no letter to Bucknall.

WILLIAM GREEN BUCKNALL . I am an electrical engineer, of 21, Mount Pleasant, LiverpoolâÂ£6 was due to me from Mr. BensonâI received no cheque.

HAROLD HERBERT BRUSSEY . I am assistant to Mr. Edward Brussey, jeweller, of 326, High Street, Stratfordâon July 29th the prisoner came between twelve and one in the day, and bought a watch for Â£2 5s.âhe handed me this cheque for Â£6âI gave him a ticket for it, and told him to call for it and the changeâI asked his name, and he pointed to the name "Bucknall" on the chequeâhe called on Wednesday, July 31st, and was handed the balance and the watchâin September I picked him out at Bridewell Police-stationâI had seen groups of Benson's cricket team.

Cross-examined. About fifty people came into the shop per dayâbefore identifying you I had seen the photoâon July 29th there was nothing on your face which, is not there now.

MR. BRUSSEY, SENR . I am the father of Harold Herbert Brusseyâon July 29th this cheque was brought to meâI saw the prisonerâI saw him again at the Mansion House in CourtâI identified him as soon as he appeared.

Cross-examined. It was between a quarter and half-past one, and after my son had identified him.

RICHARD EDWARD CHARLES GREGORY . I am clerk to Mr. BensonâI have searched, but I cannot find Bucknall's returned cheque for Â£6âit came back, and I ticked it off in the cash bookâit has disappeared.

Cross-examined. You and I lunched together more or lessâon July 31st I was taking photos, and did not go to lunchâyou lent me 10s.âon July 21st you had a knock on your faceâI recognise Jefferson in the photosâthe only time he called at the office was on August 30th, about 2 p.mâhe had a cricket-ball scar on his face three or four daysâon July 29th it was noticeable.

J. B. HENRY. I am a commissionaire employed at Benson'sâI see this photoâI never admitted anyone to see the prisoner during working hoursâno one can get byâI do not remember Jefferson coming.

Cross-examined. Office hours are 9.15 to 5âI stay till 5.30.

PERCY FREDERICK DICKERSON . I am a clerk at Parr's Bankâthe cheques for Â£9 and Â£6 were paid.

JAMES BROWN (City Policeman). From instructions received on

September 20th, I made inquiries at BalhamâI received the ring, some letters, and a photograph from Miss Tyler.

WILLIAM MATTHEWS (City Detective Sergeant). On September 19th I saw the prisoner at Benson'sâI told him I was a police officer, and that he answered the description of a man who cashed a cheque at a jeweller's in Stratford, and asked him if he would stand with other men for identificationâhe said that he wouldâhe went with me to Bridewell Police-station, where he stood with six men, and Bressey picked him outâin the cell he said, "I can explain about that, but I will not do so now"âon October 15th he asked to have Jefferson and Cooper producedâhe said that he bought the ring of Cooper, and said, "Is it not possible my brother-in-law could have stolen them while I was washing my hands?"

The prisoner's statement before the Magistrate: "I was at business as usual on both the days that I was supposed to have been at Stratford. I went to lunch as usual. I have never been in the neighbourhood of Stratford during the lunch hour; I have never seen the witness who identifies me before. I have never bought or owned a lady's gold keyless watch. I have never been in the witness's shop, and, in fact, do not know exactly where it is. On Tuesday, July 30th, I was in a financial bad way, and I went to see my brother-in-law in the evening to borrow some money till Saturday; he had none then, but he let me have 1s. to pay my morning fare, promised to send me on some before dinner time next day. Next morning (July 31st), as it did not arrive by 12 o'clock, Mr. Gregory, who also had no money, and I, discussed how to get lunch, and he borrowed some somewhere; we then went to lunch together, came back early, when a telegraphic money order for Â£1 came for me about 1.45 p.m. I at once borrowed 10s. on it from Mr. Lochler, our petty cashier, and lent that to Mr. Gregory, and then went to the Fleet Street office, cashed the order and repaid Mr. Lochler the 10s." And on another date: "I wish to say that I quite acknowledge giving that ring to Miss Tyler. I think I can produce the person from whom I bought it. I wish further to say that this throws some light to me upon the previous charge against me, and I should like to ask for a remand, with power to communicate with the police to have the person from whom I obtained that ring brought here to say, if the same ring, how he obtained possession of that cheque."

The prisoner, in his defence, on oath, said that he bought the ring of Cooper for 30s.; that when he knew Bucknall's cheque was traced and cashed in Stratford, he attended as usual at the office; that when he was identified on July 21st his eye was black from an accident, and the plaister not removed from his face till July 31st, when he received a remittance from Jefferson, but otherwise was in monetary difficulties, and had no money for lunch; that Jefferson often came during working hours, and must have taken the cheques.

Evidence for the Defence.

LETTY DENT . I have been living with you at Leyton since July 1stâyour wife wrote to Jeffersonâhe came and stayed from 3 to 7 p.m.âI have not seen him sinceâSunday, July 21st, was my birthdayâon July 28th the prisoner was wearing plaisterâon the 29th it was still on.

FRANK LOCHLER . I am cashier to Mr. Bensonâyou cashed a moneyorder

SAMUEL MORRIS . I live at Stroud GreenâI am a printer in Shoe LaneâI called once; I cannot tell whenâthe prisoner wanted money for a day offâI lent him 10s.âI have done so before sometimes, and he paid me back.

GUILTY .âHe thenPLEADED GUILTYto a conviction of felony at Bow Street, on December 20th, 1894, in the name of George Johnson.â Eighteen months' hard labour.

OLD COURT. Friday, October 25th, 1901.

Before Mr. Justice Bigham.

756. RICHARD CORNELIUS ELLIOTT PLEADED GUILTY to the publication of a false and defamatory libel on Joseph Lawrence . Discharged on his own recognisances. âAnd

ELSIE BEAUMONT . I live at 32, Vauxhall Road, Lambethâon Sunday, September 29th, about 7 p.m, I was with my uncle, the deceased, by Vauxhall Cross, waiting for a tram car to go in the direction of Wands-worthâthe tram came up and was standing still in the road; we were close to itâa short distance behind the tram there is a public lavatoryâmy uncle went towards the hind part of the tram on the left sideâI was just going to put my foot on to the step of the tramâmy uncle was standing sidewaysâI saw a two-wheeled cart coming towards us in the same direction as the tram was pointing; it was going fast; it knocked my uncle down; it caught his right shoulder; it nearly hit meâmy uncle fell down straight along by the tramâthe man who was driving did not pull up but whipped the horse and drove on quicker than he had been driving beforeâI ran after the trapâI left my uncle in the roadâI called out to the man to stop, then I went back to my uncleâhe was taken to St. Thomas's Hospitalâhe died on the following Tuesday morning at 12.15.

Cross-examined. We were there before the tram came upâI did not notice a lady trying to get into the tramâI saw the trap before it reached usâI did not think it would come so close as it didâI had not got hold of the rail of the tramâwhen I looked to see where the trap was after my uncle was knocked down it was more than the length of the tram away; it had passed the tram horsesâI am quite sure the man whipped the horseâI saw a woman in the cartâI did not see that she had a baby in her arms, or that there was a little girl in the cart, and a boy kneeling in the frontâthe man was holding the whip above his shoulderâwhen the trap came back I did not notice that the whip was in the socket, with the strings of a straw basket round itâI do not know that my uncle had a bruise on his right hipâhe had his head towards the tram horses when he was knocked downâI should have noticed him step back if he had done so before he was knocked down; he did not step back.

Re-examined. When I first saw the trap it was about the length of this Court away, or a little more.

By theCOURT. I was not carrying anythingâmy uncle had my umbrellaâhe had carried it right from homeâhe was not helping me to the tram from behind.

JOHN JOSEPH LAMBETH . I am a tram driver, of No. 5 Block, Victoria Buildings, Battersea Parkâon Sunday, September 29th, about 7 p.m., I was in charge of the tramcar by Vauxhall Cross, going in the direction of Wandsworthâmy attention was attracted by a trap coming alongâon looking round the near side of my car I saw it was driven by the prisonerâI saw the off-wheel of the cart knock down the deceasedâI thought it was going about 10 miles an hourâI called out for the prisoner to stop; he drove rapidly awayâI jumped off my tram into the road, and blew my whistleâI did not see the prisoner stoppedâI saw there was a woman and a child in the trap.

Cross-examined. Other people called to the prisoner to stop as wellâthe horse was obviously going faster after the accident than beforeâI did not notice the trap swerve to the near side at the moment of the accidentâI did not notice the prisoner put out his hand to catch a little boy who was kneeling in front of the splashboardâthe woman had a baby in her armsâI did not see a girl in the cartâI did not notice any lady trying to get into the tram besides Miss Beaumontâother people were round the tram.

ALFRED SCOBELL . I live at 41, Huntsmore Road, East Hill, Wands-worth, and am a tram conductorâI was on my car about 7 p.m. on September 29th in Wandsworth Road, and about 300 yards from Vauxball CrossâI heard a police whistle, and saw a trap and horse coming towards meâI afterwards found that it was driven by the prisonerâit was going about 10 or 12 miles an hourâI ran towards him and put my hands upâhe did not stop, and as he passed me I put my left hand on the shaft and caught the reins with my right handâthe cart was coming away from the tram where the deceased was knocked downâwhen I got hold of the reins the horse answered readily to meâthe prisoner was not using the whip; I did not notice where it wasâhe did not appear to be pulling up.

Cross-examined. There was a good deal of noise, shouting, and whistles, blowing.

CHARLES HASEMAN (WR 41). About 7 p.m. on September 29th I was at Vauxhall CrossâI heard shouts of "Stop him!"âI saw the prisoner driving away in a horse and cart at a very fast pace towards Nine Elms LaneâI blew my whistle and went after himâhe was stopped by the last witnessâI told him I should take him into custody for furious drivingâhe was taken to the station and charged with furious driving, and doing grievous bodily harmâhe said, "I was not furiously driving; the man backed away from the tram; a lot of people got off, and I knocked him down."

Cross-examined. Before the Magistrate I said "that the prisoner was not driving furiously; the man stepped back to allow some people to get off the car, when I knocked him down"âwhen I got up to the trap the prisoner's wife and children were still in it, the whip was still in the socketâI did not notice a bag with some mushrooms and blackberries in it round the

whipâthe trap was taken to the station by another constable; it belongs to the prisoner's brother.

ROBERT HAMILTON (Police Inspector). I visited the prisoner in the cells at the stationâhe said he had a statement to makeâI cautioned him that it might be used in evidence against himâI took down what he said, and he signed itâ(Read) "I was driving past the tramway terminus at Vauxhall. I saw a man stepping back as I was close to him; my off side-wheel caught him and knocked him down; my wife and children were in the cart screaming, which caused the horse to bolt; I did not use the whip"

Cross-examined. He did not say that in order to avoid the accident he pulled his near-side rein sharply, or that the horse swerved a bit, or that the boy who was kneeling in front fell forwards, or that he seized himâhe said a basket of blackberries was hanging on his whip.

Re-examined. I did not see a basket.

ROBERT PHILLIPS (651 W) produced and proved a plan of the locality, showing that the spot where the prisoner was stopped was 300 yards from where the tram was standing.

WILLIAM HENRY WOODS . I was the House Surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospitalâon Sunday evening, September 29th, the deceased was brought in absolutely unconsciousâhe had a fracture at the base of his skullâhe was also suffering from concussionâthat could have been caused by being knocked backwardsâI did not find any other bruise on himâhe died at 12.15 on Tuesday.

Cross-examined. Before the Coroner I said, "Beyond a bruise on the hip there was no other injury"âthat was a mistake on my partâit should be "Post-mortem bruise"âafter death the blood settles down into the small veins, and causes that which is called bruisingâ"Post-mortem staining" would be betterâI do not say that it the deceased was struck by the wheel he must have been struck on the headâI do not know where he was hitâthere was no trace of a blow on his bodyâthere was a distinct mark on his right hipâI should say it was not caused before death.

NOT GUILTY .

760. CECIL STEGGAL (19) , Rape on Mary Wood.

MR. SYMONDSProsecuted.

NOT GUILTY .

NEW COURT.âWednesday, October 23rd; Friday, October 26th Monday, October 28th; and Tuesday, October 29th, 1901.

Before Mr. Recorder.

761. WILLIAM HENRY NEWTON (36) PLEADED GUILTY to stealing 41 pieces of silk, the property of the London and North-Western Railway Company; also to stealing two boxes of ties, the property of Thomas Morton; also to stealing 58 ties, the property of Walter Milnes, having been convicted in the name of Henry White on May 1st, 1893. Two other convictions were proved against him. (See Sessions Papers, Vol. CXVIII, p. 734.) Eight years' penal servitude. And

762. VALENTINE HENRY COOMBES (30) to unlawfully incurring a debt and liability for Â£1,293 19s. 9d., and other sums, by false pretences. He He received a good character. Discharged on recognizances. [Pleaded guilty: See original trial image.]

GEORGE INGLIS BOYLE . I am a messenger in the Banktuptcy CourtâI produce the file in the bankruptcy of William Paynter Barton Browneâthe adjudication was on September 28th, 1887âthe liabilities are Â£1,887 12s. and the assets Â£285 18s. 10d.; deficiency, Â£1,601 15s. 10d.âthere was no dividend and no dischargeâanother bankruptcy was filed on February 18th, 1896âliabilities, Â£769 5s. 2d.; assets, Â£37 7s. 1d.; deficiency, Â£771 13s. 7d.; no dividend and no dischargeâthe bankruptcy of James Marshall, or Fuller, 110, Fenchurch Street, grocer, was on December 20th, 1897; liabilities, Â£3,067 0s. 3d; assets, Â£2,396 3s. 7d; deficiency, Â£1, 210 16s. 8d.; no dividend and undischargedâhe signed the name of FullerâI also produce the file in the bankruptcy of Walter George Pindar, or Lawford and Lawrence, on January 29th, 1901, the London Incorporated Cab Company; liabilities, Â£58,856 15s. 11d.; assets, Â£1, 116 9s. 8d.; deficiency, Â£40,750 6s. 3d.âit was filed on November 29th, 1900âthe creditor was H. R. Harberton, trading as H. R. Harberton & Co.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. The bankruptcy of Pindar was the bankruptcy of the cab company.

HENRY FRANCIS MAJOR . I am independent, and live at 93, Sutherland Road, Watfordâin June, 1899, I saw an advertisement in the Daily Telegraph, and went to 44, Bloomsbury Street, and saw Lyons and Hardinge (Fuller)âHardinge was the secretaryâI asked him how many horses he hadâhe said 200 horses and 100 cabsâhe assured me that everything was correct, and offered me an order to go round the premisesâhe produced a bundle of deposit notes, one from a captain, who had deposited Â£400, and taken it out and deposited Â£600âon June 6th I went again and saw Hardinge, and said that I would invest Â£500âhe suggested that if I left it subject to three months' notice it would be 16 1/2 percent.âI paid him a Â£500 note, and got this receipt, signed "B. T. Lawrence," and this deposit note, signed "R.S. Hardinge, Secretary"âI put it in subject to 20 days' withdrawalâI agreed that the interest was to be paid monthly, but the document says weeklyâIgot this circular, stating "Our trading for the past six months has been of a very lucrative character"âon July 10th I sent a further Â£200 in a registered letter, and got this receipt and deposit note, signed by Lawrence and Hardinge respectively, and a letterâin August I went again to Bloomsbury Street, and took another Â£100 belonging to Miss StrakerâI paid it to Hardinge in 19 Â£5 notes and Â£5 in gold, and got this deposit note (Produced)âHardinge said that trade was somewhat quiet at the present time, but he had sold 10 horses to the London General Omnibus Company at Â£20 eachâI received this paper in Septemberâ(Enclosing the balance-sheet.)âI believed that the assets were

Â£4,495 more than the liabilities, and that the amount for which they were liable to depositors was Â£12,000âin January I got this circular referring to an approaching auditâ(This mentioned frequent sales of horses to the War Office.)âon January 5th I got this circularâ(Stating that the dealings with the War Office had opened up business, and offering 22s. 6d. per annum for deposits.)âI then determined to deposit another Â£200, went to the office, and saw Hardinge, who said that the business was in a flourishing condition, that everything was insured, and that they were buying horses at Â£22 and Â£23, and selling them at Â£45âI paid Â£200 on January 10th, and got this receiptâabout January 23rd I got this balance-sheet and letter, stating "We beg to send you a copy of our balance-sheet, showing a surplus of Â£7,700 over our liabilities"; I believed thatâabout March 15th I got this letter, giving notice that the rate of interest will be reduced, except as to subscribers, before the end of the monthâin June, 1900, I got Exhibit 23, "A word of warning to our depositors against dealing with property of mushroom growth"âI then received this: "July 14th, 1900. In consequence of the death of one of our old depositors, the executors of his estate have applied to us for the amount, and we give you the opportunity of increasing your investments"âI also got this in July; it is signed "T. S. Huntingdon," and is an attack on the London Cab Co-operative Society, also this letter signed "Browne," 44, Bedford Rowâ(Stating that Mr. Brinkworth had called upon them and threatened proceedings, and that it was an attempt to blackmail.)âon August 3rd I gave this notice (Produced) of the withdrawal of Â£900âI also gave a similar notice for Miss Straker for the withdrawal of her Â£100âI got a communication promising me a cheque in due course, and on October 10th I got a cheque for Â£3 15s. 10d. for interest; I paid that in and it was dishonouredâI had given three months' notice, which had not then elapsedâon October 28th I got this long letterâ(Stating that they had resolved to form their business into a limited company, to insure confidence in the trade.)âI read it all through, and replied, stating that I had no desire to enter into other arrangements, but wanted my money backâabout that date I went to Rutland Yard, and saw Pindar, but he did not speak to me; he slipped out of the wayâI went into the office, and saw a man, who I found out was Brinkworth, managing the businessâI made another appointment, and called and saw Pindar and HantkeâPindar assured me that every thing was right, and that everybody would be paid eventually, but that they were a little pressed at the time, and I went upstairs, and saw the booksâon November 12th I went and saw Lawrence, and asked him if he would settle with meâhe said that they had no money, and could not settleâI asked him to give us some securityâhe offered me some bonds in the new company which I did not acceptâI received some circulars about a grocery and provision shop in the name of LascellesâI mentioned it to Lawrence; he said that Hardinge had sold the nameânext day, the 12th, I got this letterâ(Stating that it was understood that the company was to give him three months' notice.)âit was not true that I had agreed, and I wrote and repudiated itâI once asked Lawford how it was that they did not issue a balance-sheet for six months; he said that they could not do itâmy solicitor began an action for Â£1,000, my Â£900 and Miss Straker's Â£100, and got judgment for Â£1,060 with interest, which

was met by a prior executionâI never got anythingâthe next thing was a circular signed "Lawford and Lawrence" calling the creditors together and admitting insolvencyâI attended a meeting of the creditorsâI have got no dividend nor any part of my money back.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I am not prepared to say that the company did not own 200 cabs and other vehicles; that was the only representation madeâI received deposit notesâI asked if it was honest and sound, and they said "Yes"âHardinge said that they were buying horses at Â£23 and Â£25, and selling them to the War Office at Â£45 eachâI have learned since that they never did buy a horseâI do not know that they bought thousands of pounds' worth of horsesâI was going to give notice before the newspapers took it upâI did not think much of it after I received a letter cautioning me about the companyâthey told me that Mr. Huntingdon was the founder of the business.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I went to 4, Bloomsbury Street, and asked Hardinge how many cabs and horses there wereâhe offered me an order to go round and view the stock, so that I could have verified his statementsâI last saw him in connection with the company on January 7th, 1900.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONS. I went all over Rutland YardâI saw the office at 4, Bloombury Streetâthere were 35 horses and about 33 cabs there.

G. I. BOYLE (Re-examined). There was a private examinationâthis is itâ(In this Fuller stated that he was only an employee at Â£4 a week, and had no interest or shares in the company.)âthe prisoner Browne appeared for him.

ByMR. BODKIN. That was the bankruptcy of Marshall & Co.; it had nothing to do with the bankruptcy of this company.

EMILY ALICE BROADBENT . I am single, and live at Newport Pagnelâabout Christmas, 1899, I saw this advertisement in the Daily Mail: "Before investing elsewhere, apply to the Secretary of the London Cab Company"âI wrote, and got this prospectus: "Absolute safe investment; liability strictly limited; and, in the opinion of eminent Counsel, anybody making a deposit incurs no further liability beyond the amount of that original deposit. Secretary, R. F. Hardinge; Solicitors, Brown and Company, Bedford Row"âI then got this letter: "As requested, we beg to forward you particulars of our investment. * * * * Our books are duly examined every half-year by Messrs. Watkins, chartered accountants of New Broad Street * * * * and we enclose a copy of our balance-sheet to December 31st * * * * showing a surplus of Â£7,797 4s. 4d. above the liabilities.âPro London Cab Co-operative Company, A. L. LAWFORD"âI believed that the balance-sheet enclosed was true and accurate, and sent Â£50 in bank-notes, and got this receipt, signed "Lawrence, Cashier," and this deposit-note, signed "Hardinge"âit stated that the deposit would be reduced, but not to those who deposited before the end of the monthâI then got a printed form, in view of an auditâon November 26th, 1900, I sent another Â£50 by this cheque (Produced), for which I got this letter and receipt signed "Lawford & Lawrence, November 28th"âI acknowledged them the next dayâI believed the statements in the prospectus and balance-sheetâwhen I paid

the last Â£50 I had no idea that they were within 24 hours of bankruptcy.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I relied on the figures in the balance-sheetâI did not know that a great many depositors had withdrawnâI had received interest before.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONS. I did not see that gentleman in connection with this.

RACHAEL HARMER . I am a widow, of 39, Holland Road, Brixtonâin May, 1898, my husband showed me an advertisement in the Daily Telegraph referring to a cab company, and I went to the office in Bloomsbury Street, and saw HardingeâI asked him about the cab company; he gave me a reference to Mr. Browne, a solicitor, of Bedford RowâI asked Evans's address, but he did not give it me till the end of the weekâI went to Browne, and asked him to give ma the particulars, and to tell me the truth, as my husband was anxious to invest what he had, for the benefit of myself and children; he assured me that it was all rightâI believed that, coming from a solicitorâI then saw Hardinge, and deposited Â£400âthe interest was payable weeklyâin September I saw something in the Star newspaper, and gave notice to withdraw the Â£400âabout January, 1899, Hardinge called at my houseâI said I was very much surprised to see him; he asked to see my husband, who said, "Let him come up"âhe went up, and they had a conversationâhe said that the company had an agreement to bring out a certain number of Taximeter cabs of the best quality, and asked if we would invest; again in the company, and said that we were not to believe anything which appeared in the Starâmy husband died nine days after thatâHardinge said that we had a thoroughly safe investment, and had nothing to fear, and he would look after me and my children's interest in the companyâI believed his statements, and on February 1st deposited Â£550 with the companyâwe had promised Â£600âthis deposit note is signed, "Hardinge, Secretary," and the receipt, "Lawrence, Cashier"âI went to 4, Bloomsbury Street, to get thatâon the day after my husband's death I went to see Fuller, and paid him the other Â£50âthese are the deposit note and receiptâin August, 1899, I went again to Bloomsbury Street and saw HardingeâI was receiving 26 percent, interest, and I asked him if he would take another Â£100 at the same rateâhe said he would let me knowâI afterwards went again and took Â£200, and gave it to Hardingeâthese are the receipt and deposit notesâon September 8th I received a letter signed "Hardinge," saying that the interest on investments made before February would not be affectedâin December, 1899, I received a visit from FullerâI had not asked him, but he had sent me a telegram saying that he was comingâhe said that he had been doing a good business with the War Office, and asked if I had any more money to investâI said that I had only Â£100 or Â£150 leftâhe said that the company was splendid, and was flourishingâI believed him, and made a further deposit of Â£150âthis, is the receipt and the deposit noteâin March, 1900, I had another visit from Fuller, who said that he had left the company in Januaryâhe did not say why they fell out, but called, as he had promised to look after meâhe advised me to withdraw my money, as they were misappropriating depositors' money, and he could not stand by and see it, and that 26 per cent, was nothing, considering

the profits they made out of the warâhe said that he had another investment for the money I was to draw out, but it would not pay so wellâI said that I would think it over, and I received a note or telegram saying, "Take no further notice till you see me again"âI next saw him at Marlborough Streetâat the end of the same year I went to Rutland Yardâin consequence of something I saw in the Morning Leader I saw Lawrence, and told him so, and that I was going away the next dayâthey told me I might go away with confidenceâabout October I went there again with my stepson, and saw LawrenceâHantke said that they had formed a limited company; that in consequence of what was in the papers they were unable to obtain credit, and they asked me to take shares in it to the amount of my depositâI said that I would think it over and let them knowâthey gave me a certain time, and I gave notice to withdraw theÂ£500âI never got itâI stand to lose Â£950âI got interest up to January.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I was rather surprised at the interest; people told e that it was so large.

By theCOURT. I had a year and a-half's interest, which I invested againâI am perfectly sure Hantke was there; every time I went there I saw themâI saw them before I parted with my moneyâmy stepson had Â£50 deposited in my name.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. Hardinge was in the office alone as secretary; he did not make a communication to anybody who appeared to be his superiorâthe receipt had to be signed by "Lawrence"; it was not brought ready signedâI did not inquire why Hardinge had left, but my stepson didâthey said that Mr. Hardinge was too lazy; he wanted all the money, and to do no workâthey did not say why they had dismissed him, but they said that it was no use keeping him on; he had left then.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONS. Mr. Browne was a stranger to me, but I found out that he was the solicitor to the company after I went to him, and when I invested my moneyâI got back every penny of my money and 26 percent. interestâI did not see Mr. Browne before I invested my money againâStanley Evans really was the company; I told him I wanted particulars of the companyâI did not inquire how much money he had got in the companyâhe said that it was a thoroughly sound concern; my husband was alive then, and the risk lay with himâwhen I re-invested it I thought I was going to get 26 per cent., and no risk at all, because the profit was so large.

ByMR. MOYSES. I cannot remember seeing any prospectusâI acted the second time entirely on what I was told at my houseâI know that Fuller and Hantke knew about it.

Re-examined. In making my deposit after I had been paid my Â£400, of course, I relied on the references.

ANNIE FRANCES WEYMOUTH . I am a widowâDane Lodge, Southampton, was my late addressâI saw an advertisement in the Standard of January, 1898, and wrote to Mr. Davies at the office of the London Co-operative Cab Company, 4, Bloomsburyâthis is my letterâ(Making inquiries about the company, and asking whether she could withdraw her money at seven days' notice.)âDavies replied and said that he was one of the largest investorsâI believed that, and sent a cheque for Â£150 to the companyâ(This was endorsed "London Co-operative Cab Company, B. T.

Lawrence, Cashier.")âon February 1st I got a receipt and deposit note for that amountâI then received this, headed "Copy of auditor's certificate," and enclosing the balance sheet of the company, showing assets exceeding liabilities to that dateâI believed that that contained a true statement of the affairs of the company; I got a balance-sheet with itâI then received this letter of November 16th, 1900â(Enclosing a memorandum of association and a list of the company's horses and cabs at Rutland Yard, signed "Lawford and Lawrence.")âI heard that they stopped paymentâI never got any portion of my money back.

Cross-examined. I wrote the first letter in 1898, but did not send any money till 18 months afterwardsâI acted on the advertisementâI do not produce itâI do not complain of anything that was in the advertisement.

FREDERICK WILLIAM GILES . I live at 9, Arkwrigbt Road, Hampsteadâin the autumn of 1899, in consequence of an advertisement, I communicated with Bloomsbury Street, and got a prospectus stating that the capital was Â£20,000, not Â£50,000âI sect a cheque for Â£500; this is the receipt and deposit noteâin October, 1899, I deposited a further sum of Â£3,000, and got these deposit notes for Â£1,000 eachâat the end of 1899 I got this balance-sheet with the balance of assets over liabilities Â£75,000; I believed that that was true, and in February, 1900, I deposited a further Â£500, and received this deposit noteâin the autumn of 1899 I called at Goldsmith Street, and saw Hardinge; he said that it was a very good business, and showed me a power of attorney from Stanley Evans, but did not say who he wasâin March, 1898, I asked for Â£1,200 on a deposit note which ought to have been paid on May 22nd, and got this letterâ(Stating that they had sold horses to the value of Â£14,000, and had difficulty in getting the money from the Government, and that directly it arrived the witness should he paid; and a postscript stated: "We are looking forward to a much improved balance-sheet to that of December last.')âI wrote again, and got this letter signed "Lawford:" "We are raising a mortgage on Rutland Yard, and expect to receive the amount to-morrow, and will send a cheque"âI never got any of my money backâI had deposited Â£6,200âI consulted Mr. Jennings, my solicitor.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. It was the prospectus which induced me to part with my money; I never saw Mr. Lawford or any one of the Board of DirectorsâI am not one of the boardâmy solicitor helped to form the companyâMr. Stanworth is my nominee on the boardâthey told me that horses were sold to the War Officeâthere is now a genuine business going on with the War Officeâwe employ the same manager that the cab company employed.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I first saw Hardinge in the autumn of 1899âthat was, I think, before I invested my moneyâhe offered to show me the yard and the stock, and I saw Rutland Yard, and was satisfied.

ELEANOR WEAVER . I am marriedâI saw an advertisement in the Daily Mailâmy husband replied to it in May, and got a prospectus and balance-sheet signed by an accountantâI believed it was true, and my husband sent Â£200, a cheque for Â£150, and bank notes for the remainderâI got a receipt and deposit noteâI was promised 164 per cent interestâI received this letter, dated November 7th, 1900â(inclosing a cheque

the profits they made out of the warâhe said that he had another investment for the money I was to draw out, but it would not pay so wellâI said that I would think it over, and I received a note or telegram saying. "Take no further notice till you see me again"âI next saw him at Marlborough Streetâat the end of the same year I went to Rutland Yardâin consequence of something I saw in the Morning Leader I saw Lawrence, and told him so, and that I was going away the next dayâthey told me I might go away with confidenceâabout October I went there again with my stepson, and saw LawrenceâHantke said that they had formed a limited company; that in consequence of what was in the papers they were unable to obtain credit, and they asked me to take shares in it to the amount of my depositâI said that I would think it over and let them knowâthey gave me a certain time, and I gave notice to withdraw the Â£500âI never got itâI stand to lose Â£950âI got interest up to January.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I was rather surprised at the interest; people told me that it was so large.

By theCOURT. I had a year and a-half's interest, which I invested againâI am perfectly sure Hantke was there; every time I went there I saw themâI saw them before I parted with my moneyâmy stepson had Â£50 deposited in my name.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. Hardinge was in the office alone as secretary; he did not make a communication to anybody who appeared to be his superiorâthe receipt had to be signed by "Lawrence"; it was not brought ready signedâI did not inquire why Hardinge had left, but my stepson didâthey said that Mr. Hardinge was too lazy; he wanted all the money, and to do no workâthey did not say why they had dismissed him, but they said that it was no use keeping him on; he had left then.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONS. Mr. Browne was a stranger to me, but I found out that he was the solicitor to the company after I went to him, and when I invested my moneyâI got back every penny of my money and 26 per cent. interestâI did not see Mr. Browne before I invested my money againâStanley Evans really was the company; I told him I wanted particulars of the companyâI did not inquire how much money he had got in the companyâhe said that it was a thoroughly sound concern; my husband was alive then, and the risk lay with himâwhen I re-invested it I thought I was going to get 26 per cent., and no risk at all, because the profit was so large.

ByMR. MOYSES. I cannot remember seeing any prospectusâI acted the second time entirely on what I was told at my houseâI know that Fuller and Hantke knew about it.

Re-examined. In making my deposit after I had been paid my Â£400, of course, I relied on the references.

ANNIE FRANCES WEYMOUTH . I am a widowâDane Lodge, Southampton, was my late addressâI saw an advertisement in the Standard of January, 1898, and wrote to Mr. Davies at the office of the London Co-operative Cab Company, 4, Bloomsburyâthis is my letterâ(Making inquiries about the company, and asking whether she could withdraw her money at seven days' notice.)âDavies replied and said that he was one of the largest investorsâI believed that, and sent a cheque for Â£150 to the companyâ(This was endorsed "London Co-operative Cab Company, B. T.

Lawrence, Cashier")âon February 1st I got a receipt and deposit note for that amountâI then received this, headed "Copy of auditor's certificate," and enclosing the balance sheet of the company, showing assets exceeding liabilities to that dateâI believed that that contained a true statement of the affairs of the company; I got a balance-sheet with itâI then received this letter of November 16th, 1900â(Enclosing a memorandum of association and a list of the company's horses and cabs at Rutland Yard, signed "Lawford and Lawrence.")âI heard that they stopped paymentâI never got any portion of my money back.

Cross-examined. I wrote the first letter in 1898, but did not send any money till 18 months afterwardsâI acted on the advertisementâI do not produce itâI do not complain of anything that was in the advertisement.

FREDERICK WILLIAM GILES . I live at 9, Arkwrigb.t Road, Hampsteadâin the autumn of 1899, in consequence of an advertisement, I communicated with Bloomsbury Street, and got a prospectus stating that the capital was Â£20,000, not Â£50,000âI sent a cheque for Â£500; this in the receipt and deposit noteâin October, 1899, I deposited a further sum of Â£3,000, and got these deposit notes for Â£1,000 eachâat the end of 1899 I got this balance-sheet with the balance of assets over liabilities Â£75,000; I believed that that was true, and in February, 1900,1 deposited a further Â£500, and received this deposit noteâin the autumn of 1899 I called at Goldsmith Street, and saw Hardinge; he said that it was a very good business, and who wed me a power of attorney from Stanley Evans, but did not say who he wasâin March, 1898, I asked for Â£1,200 on a deposit note which ought to have been paid on May 22nd, and got this letterâ(Stating that they had sold horses to the value of Â£14,000, and had difficulty in getting the money from the Government, and that directly it arrived the witness should be paid; and a postscript stated:"We are looking forward to a much improved balance-sheet to that of December last.")âI wrote again, and got this letter signed "Lawford:" "We are raising a mortgage on Rutland Yard, and expect to receive the amount to-morrow, and will send a cheque"âI never got any of my money backâI had deposited Â£6,200âI consulted Mr. Jennings, my solicitor.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. It was the prospectus which induced me to part with my money; I never saw Mr. Lawford or any one of the Board of DirectorsâI am not one of the boardâmy solicitor helped to form the companyâMr. Stanworth is my nominee on the boardâthey told me that horses were sold to the War Officeâthere is now a genuine business going on with the War Officeâwe employ the same manager that the cab company employed.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I first saw Hardinge in the autumn of 1899âthat wag, I think, before I invested my moneyâhe offered to show me the yard and the stock, and I saw Rutland Yard, and was satisfied.

ELEANOR WEAVER . I am marriedâI saw an advertisement in the Daily Mailâmy husband replied to it in May, and got a prospectus and balance-sheet signed by an accountantâI believed it was true, and my husband sent Â£200, a cheque for Â£150, and bank notes for the remainderâI got a receipt and deposit noteâI was promised 164 per cent, interestâI received this letter, dated November 7th, 1900â(Enclosing a cheque

for Â£8 2s. 6d. for interest up to date, and offering to take other amounts at the same rate.)âsoon after that 1 heard that the company was in bankruptcy.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I only received interest onceâI received a copy of the Morning Leader with an article marked in blue pencil; that caused me to withdraw my moneyâI did not doubt the company being sound before I received that paper.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I never heard of or saw Hardinge.

HERBERT WATKINS . I am a chartered accountant, of 23, Bread Streetâin February, 1899, I was called in to examine the books of the London Co-operative Cab Company, and saw Pindar, Hardinge, and FullerâI got information from them, examined the books, and prepared the balance-sheet of February 18th, 1899âthere were six depositors' lodgers, one for each day of the week, the interest being due weekly, and paid from the day of depositâthis is a copy of the cash bookâI have stated that the balance of assets over liabilities on February 18th, 1899, was Â£277 3s. 2d., including the debt to depositorsâthe figure just before that is to depositors as per ledger, Â£8,000 3s. 8d.âthat does not include interestâI went into the audit again five months laterâExhibit 94 is my copy draftâI find by looking at the same book that the assets exceed the liabilities by Â£4,500 18s. 2d.; the assets are Â£12,000 8s. 9d., and the balance is Â£4,500, so that the books had improved considerably since FebruaryâI was called in again, and this is my copy draft for the period ending December, 1899âI made no separate valuation of the leases and goodwillâthe amount is more, and after deducting the amount due to depositors, the amount had almost doubledâI went again in 1900âthis is my original draft; I find that the balance of assets over liabilities is only Â£776; that is a loss of Â£7,000 in six monthsâthat is arrived at after deducting the amount due to depositorsâthe amount I have inserted in each balance-sheet is what the books show was due to depositors at those four periodsâI had nothing but the books to rely on, but they did not show the totals; that was simple additionâI believe those balance-sheets were circulated except the last oneâI had a conversation with the defendant about it, and said that it seemed very unsatisfactory trading; he said that it was simply through their having moved from Bloomsbury to Rutland YardâInspector Bower showed me a number of books of the Co-operative Cab Company; they were different books to those I had seen beforeâMr. Cowley, a clerk, assisted me in the mechanical part.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. The first was a very incomplete set of booksâI suggested a new system of book-keepingâwhatever was incomplete in the books I got information from Mr. Spingall and Mr. Hantke; I never had any difficultyâthe second balance-sheet was made up from books which Mr. Cowley prepared; my clerk had posted the cash bookâthe orignal balance-sheet was compiled by myself from the information given me by Spingall, Hantke and Fullerâthat started on the new system of book-keeping which my clerk had commencedâthe cheques were not all paid into the bank; they were used upâI made this note at the bottom of the original balance-sheet: "We have compared the above balance-sheet with the books of the company, and find it agrees with the books at the above mentioned date."

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. Fuller was present on two occasions when I went to get information, but not in June, 1900; I should not like to speak about the previous DecemberâI understood that Hardinge was the secretary; I saw no entries of his in the booksâI cannot say whether money passed through his handsâhe called on me once after he had left the company; he did not state his reason, but he said that he was no longer with itâthere was never anything in the books to make me suspicious.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONS. I never had any suspicions whateverâmy duty was to make up the balance-sheet from the information supplied to me; I hold myself responsible.

RICHARD COWLEY . I am a clerk at Cox's BankâI was originally clerk to Mr. WatkinsâI assisted him in examining the books of the Co-operative Cab CompanyâI accurately took from the books the amounts due to depositors, which appeared afterwards in the balance-sheets.

Cross-examined byMR. CAIRNS. I made extracts from the ledger of the new incomplete set of booksâI had a new set of books; Mr. Hantke kept the small books, and I wrote up the cash book and ledgerâI have not denied seeing a particular cash book in which my ticks are found.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I worked at the books at the company's office; Mr. Hardinge was thereâI did not refer to him with regard to entries in the books; he did not come on one occasion; that was at the end of January or the beginning of February.

WILLIAM ANTHONY SLEEEMAN . I am clerk to Messrs. Chatterit, Nelson & Co., chartered accountants, Queen Victoria StreetâMr. Nelson was appointed trustee in bankruptcy of Lawford and Lawrenceâthe books of the London Co-operative Cab Company were handed over to our firm by the Official ReceiverâI have carefully examined them from December, 1897, till the bankruptcyâthe cash book is in Hantke's writingâin cash book No. 1 Â£50 appears which does not seem to have been paid into the bankâthere are one or two entries in 1897 of payments in respect of cab yardsâDorset Yard and Rutland Yard belonged to the companyâup to February 18th, 1899, Â£18,200 odd had been received from depositors, and the repayments were Â£6,100 odd, leaving Â£12,134 due to depositorsâI had a conversation with Hantke as to Â£5,675, part of the Â£18,200, as I could not understand the entriesâhe said that a good many were names that did not exist, and others were proper names, but that the moneys had not been received by himâthe fictitious names I marked with a crossâthe cheques were made out and endorsed in the name of Thomas Daviesâthey amounted to about Â£2,600âthe cheques in Exhibit No. 136 are payable to H. BaldwinâI showed them to a Mr. Payneâon June 30th, 1899, I found Â£31,500 had been received from depositorsâÂ£11,000 odd had been repaid; that includes Â£6,000 paid to Davies, leaving about Â£20,096 dueâthe balance-sheet for June 30th, 1899, shows Â£12,104 due to depositors, and that for December 31st, 1899, shows Â£45,000 received from depositors, and Â£13,000 odd repaidâthe balance-sheet; shows Â£20,829 due to depositorsâfrom January 31st till the bankruptcy Â£16,600 is shown as due to the depositorsâthe total amount due to depositors up to the bankruptcy, allowing for repayments, is Â£46,000 to Â£47,000âthe company was insolvent, and a deficiency ought to have been shown in

each of the balance-sheets instead of a surplusâI make out a loss of over Â£ 1,000 a month, without interestâthe trustees have realised Â£4,500 from the assets of the company inclusive.

Cross-examined byMR. CAIRNS. I am not a chartered accountantâI had several years' experience in book-keepingâHantke answered my questionsâthe cash-books are all in his writingâthe ledgers are partly in his and partly in Page'sâI found entries of two payments in respect of Rutland Yard of October and December, 1900, amounting to Â£2,000 old eachâI did not find corresponding amounts credited to the companyâI have not examined the accounts filed in the bankruptcyâI think they show a deficiency of about Â£20,000âthe average rate of interest paid to depositors was 20 per cent, which on a total of Â£40,000 gives Â£8,000 a yearâthey paid from 65 down to 30 1/2.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONDS. A difference of Â£70,000 has gone in expenses apparentlyâwhen you take a trading account you put the interest on it and all expensesâfrom July to December, 1899, the expenses represented Â£1,000 a month exclusive of interest, which would make, perhaps, another Â£500 a month.

Re-examined. I have never before known of fictitious cheques being drawn to fictitious payees for the purpose of paying them back into the bank, and cannot conceive the necessity for it, except to waste 1d. per cheque.

HARRY WILSON . I am an incorporated accountant, of 37, Essex StreetâI prepared a statement of affairs in this bankruptcy, and was much assisted by Hantkeâhis list (Produced) shows a number of drawings from the business as interest to fictitious depositorsâThomas Davies is supposed to have deposited Â£721, Â£113, and Â£2,000, and payments of interest of Â£72 and Â£33âthe total amount of interest falsely so debited is Â£566, representing a capital of Â£5,679âI prepared it from the cash booksâI did not find any payments into the bank of the amounts which the depositors were supposed to have deposited in respect of this loss; I drew Hantke's attention to thatâhe said those entries represented moneys he had never received, and that Fuller received themâin the deficiency account which I have prepared I found about Â£800 entered as law costs, the bulk of the moneys being paid to Browne according to the cash bookâthe payments were made from day to day in small sums of Â£3 or Â£4.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES Pindar assisted me as wellâthey were always accessible to answer all my inquiriesâPuller had had money from Pindar and HantkeâI was aware of the publication of the attacks on the company in different papersâPindar and Hantke said they emanated from FullerâI am often employed in bankruptcy in the preparation and investigation of accountsâthere is, as a rule, a large sacrifice of assets in bankruptcyâI think we found that Â£27,000 would cover the whole trading for three yearsâI did not take out the trading in separate periodsâI was not able to discover at any time that the business was solventâthe cash books seem to be fairly kept as regards entriesâthere was no uncertainty on my part as to whether they were insolvent at any particular time.

that Fuller had given the game away; that he had given the newspapers certain information, in consequence of which the company had failed.

RICHARD COWLEY (Re-examined). I have come to answer any question about the cash book.

Cross-examined byMR. CAIRNS. I said I had never seen the cash bookâI have looked through it sinceâthere are none of my ticks in it; I am quite sure of my ticksâI got my materials from HantkeâI have not looked through the book page by page, but I feel sure I have not seen it before.

WILLIAM MONTAGU PORTER . I was lately Chief Clerk in the Remount Department of the Imperial Yeomany; I had charge and superintendence of the books showing the purchase of remountsâI have made every search and inquiry to find out whether Lawford, Lawrence, or the London Co-operative Cab Company have sold any horses to the Imperial Yeomanry, and found they had not.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I do not know the name of Captain Gaskale; he might be connected with the War Officeâthe order for the purchase of such hordes would be issued by the Director-General of Remountsâthe cheques themselves would come backâanyone having such a cheque paid into his bank would have a record of it in his banking accountâif there were any truth in the suggestion, it could easily be traced.

THOMAS ARTHUR HEATH . I live at Wandsworth, and am a clerk in the Inspector-General's Office of Remountsâon behalf of the War Office, seven horses were purchased from the cab company on December 13th, 1899, for Â£340; they were paid for on December 18thâsix more were purchased on January 13th, 1900, for Â£300, and paid for on January 23rdâon August 22nd one horse was purchased at Â£46, and paid for on August 24th.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. A large number of horses were bought from Lionel Smithâhe was not a channel or medium of the cab company, as far as I know; he is a horse-dealer.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONDS. I did not see Fuller in respect of the horses.

Re-examined. I know Lionel Smithâhe can be called.

EMILY SHERGOLD . I am the wife of the Rev. Frank Shergold, of Lutonâin February, 1898, I saw an advertisement of the cab company in the Daily News, to which my husband replied, and received an answer forwarding a referenceâhe then wrote to Mr. Davies, and received this replyâ(This stated: "I have every faith in the concern, and, having satisfied myself that the proprietors are able to pay what they undertake to do, I invested a considerable sum with them, for which I have always received my regular interest. In fact, I hope shortly to still further increase my deposit, as I consider it a very remunerative and safe investment.âT. DAVIES.")âon the receipt of that letter my husband sent Â£100 of my money to the company, for which I received this document (Produced.)âin April I went with my husband to Bloomsbury Street, where I saw Mr. Hardinge, the secretaryâwe asked him about the company and the investmentâhe said that the comqany was quite safeâwe then went to see the solicitor at Mr. Fuller's suggestionâwe went to Browne in Bedford Row

with Fullerâhe left us in the office to meet Browne, and said, "You can put any question you like to Mr. Browne"âmy husband put several questions to himâBrowne assured my husband it was safe, and said he had a client at that time for whom he was trying to invest a considerable amount of money in the company, a loan he was calling in, or something to that effect, and his client was going to invest somewhere else, and he was persuading or asking him to invest it in his companyâwe then went back to the office in Bloomsbury Street, and saw Fuller, and invested another Â£100 in the companyâthey were then paying 52 per cent, to us, I thinkâmy husband is a Nonconformistâin May we invested a further Â£100, still relying on the statements made to usâthe interest on this deposit, too, is stated to be 52 per cen'.âwe got our interest and on October 6th, 1898, we invested another Â£200 at 52 per cent.; we still received our interest regularlyâon October 19th, 1900, we invested a further sum of Â£200âthis is my cheque, "Pay to Mr. V. T. Lawrence," and it is endorsed "V. T. Lawrence"âthe deposit note shows 26 percent. payable weeklyâsince that payment of Â£200 we have not received any interest or any part of our capital backâwe invested all together Â£700.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I do not know how much we have received back in interest; perhaps it would be Â£500 or Â£600âI believe my husband at times, when remitting further deposits, deducted the amount of interest which had become dueâthere was always a balance owingâI saw Pindar last November, I think after the crashâI had seen Hantke before that timeâI had not had conversation with himâneither he nor Pindar made representations which induced me to put my money inâI saw the yard before November, and so far as I could see it looked like a flourishing business.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE I saw Fuller when he was secretary of the company, and he told me the company was safeâI think it must be about two years ago that I first knew of Fuller being dismissed, or leaving the companyâafter he had left neither I nor my husband received a copy of the Morning Leader or any paperâI was away from home at the time in ill-healthâmy husband saw some attacks on the company in the papersâI think that was twelve months ago last August.

Cross-examined byMR. PERROTT. I understood when I saw Browne that he was the solicitor to the companyâhe did not say if he had a client he would advise him to invest, but that he had one, and was advising him to invest his money in the company, which he thought from the documents in his possession was perfectly safeâif anyone wrote to my husband for a reference respecting the company he simply gave our own experience in receiving our interest regularly, and so far as we had it regularly we thought the company was solventâthe difference between the interest we received and the capital we invested would be some Â£200.

FITZGERALD ARTHUR . I am an advertising agent, of Avenue Road, Westgateâin or about October, 1898, I was introduced to Fuller in the name of Hardinge, who wanted me to do some advertising for the companyâI asked for a referenceâhe gave me a banker's reference, which happened to be another branch of our own bankâI generally got my orders from Fullerâthe advertised interest went down from 26 per cent.

to 13 per cent., or 10 per cent.âI also saw Hantke and Pindar at the office latterlyâI continued to put in advertisements up to October, 1900, up to which time I received Â£3,108 5s. 1d.âin the summer of that year I began to have difficulty in getting my money, when some proceedings were going onâI cannot say exactly how much was owing to me thenâin October it was Â£1,382 4s. 8d., of which I have received some sinceâI had a second mortgage on Rutland Yard given me as security for Â£1,400âat the bankruptcy I stood to lose, with legal costs and things, about Â£1,500âI had some back on account of the mortgagesâon August 19th I noticed an article about the company, about which I spoke to Hantke and Pindarâthey said the news was all wrong and garbled, that Fuller had given them away, that a lot of the information was wrong, and that several of the depositors had written to the papers denying the facts.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I said at the Police-court that they explained that there was a conspiracy on the part of Fuller and Huntingdon to damage them, and that all the information in the papers was the outcome of spite on their partâI went to the head office in Rutland Yard pretty often, where I sometimes saw recruits for the Yeomanry being trainedâI was told that the reason of their hard-upness was that the depositors were withdrawing their money, and they were pressed.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. Fuller took me round regularly to the yards, and showed me the cab business that was going onâI had a Taxameter cab from them myself for a timeâFuller left about January, 1900âwhen I wanted a cheque I sometimes asked Fuller, and sometimes Hantkeâthey were always signed "V. T. Lawrence"âI think the first time I asked for a cheque Lawrence was called in, and I always looked to him for my cheques afterwardsâafter Fuller left, the style of advertisement was changed, and Lawrence told me to put their name in as the proprietors.

THOMAS L. HANLON . I am a clerk in the Central Office of the High Court of JusticeâI produce the file in the action of Thomas Davies v. the London Cab Co-operative Companyâthe writ is dated September 14th, 1900âthe claim is for Â£2,000 on a promissory note dated January 13th, 1899âthe appearance is dated September 14thâthe plaintiff's solicitor is George Hall, and the defendant's Browne & Co., of 44, Bedford RowâI also produce an affidavit, dated September 13th, 1900, by Thomas Davies, proving the claim and the order, giving leave to sign final judgment, dated September 15th, 1900; also the writ of fi fa, dated September 18th, 1900; also the files of other actions against the companyâsome were against Lawford and Lawrence, and some against Pindarâthe files show the dates of the issue of about 10 writs in various cross proceedingsâthe appearances have been entered in every case by Browne & Co.âthe earliest date of issue of a writ of fi fa is August 31st, 1900, at the suit of Tattersall.

JAMES CLARKE . I am one of the firm of Finney, Thomas & Co., solicitorsâon September 13th, 1900, I issued a writ, at the suit of Thomas Piddeford, of Edgware, against Lawford, Lawrence, Pindar, and Hantke, trading as the London Cab Co-operative Company, for Â£103 5s., for goods sold and deliveredâthe first Â£40 of it is in respect of a dishonoured

cheque, upon which I issued execution; it was paidâappearance was entered by Browne & Co., 44, Bedford Row, on September 20thâI applied for summary judgment under Order 14; it was resisted on the dishonoured chequeâI obtained judgment, but the remainder of the claim was resisted by affidavit, upon which they were allowed to defendâI obtained judgment on November 10th by consentâI did not issue execution when I obtained judgment for the balance, because when I attended at the Sheriff's office to issue execution I was informed there were three or four executions lying there, so I advised my client not to go to the expenseâshortly after the first meeting of creditors Fuller called upon me; amongst other information, he gave me two lists of depositorsâhe said be obtained the information from the books of the company, which he took, at my request, to the Official ReceiverâI saw Browne, and he asked my permission to deposit with me some books and papers, as he was giving up practiceâI said that he could deposit them in our cellar, which he didâthey were afterwards handed over to the police.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. When Fuller brought me the lists he said it was out of revenge; that he did not care what happened to him, he would drag the whole thing down, and that they had practically kicked him out of the concern.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. He repeated to the Official Receiver what he told meâI was glad of the information in my client's interestâI did not know Fuller till he called.

Cross-examined byMR. PERROTT. So far as I know, Browne only acted as a solicitor should do.

GEORGE HALL HALL . I am a solicitor, of 8, Warwick Court, Gray's InnâBrowne came to me on September 12th last year and asked me whether I would bring an action for Â£2,000 for Davies, who had lent money to the cab company, because he was solicitor to the company, and could not act for DaviesâI said I should have no objection to act if Davies called on me and satisfied me that the debt w as dueâhe came the next day and said Davies would call on me later in the day, which he did, and produced a promissory note for Â£2,000âI then made out a writ for the amount and affidavit to be used on application for judgmentâI was to apply under Order 14, and Browne would consent to judgmentâI issued the writ, and Browne accepted serviceâI then wrote to Browne & Co.âit was merely to keep the matter in form in my booksâappearance was entered, and I took out a summons under Order 14, and got judgmentâI then issued execution, but I got instructions from Browne that I was to tell the Sheriff he was to take possession, but not to sellâI gave the fi fa to Johnson, of Portugal Streetâmy costs were to be paid by the company, and in the middle of December Davies called on me and paid me Â£5 costs.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I never saw Pindar in the matter.

JOHN JOHNSON . I am Sheriffs officer for the county of London, of 16, Portugal Street, W.CâI produce a warrant of fi fa issued at the suit of Thomas Davies against the cab company, dated September 18th, 1900, for Â£2,000 andÂ£l 10s. for the writâI levied the same day at Rutland Yard, Southead Yard, Fawcett Yard, and Dorset YardâI received instructions from Mr. Hall, and did not then levyâI allowed the cabs and horses to be

usedâI put King in possession, who was recommended to meâI had 15 warrants in all against the company, the first being dated September 18th and the last December 28thâI did not realise anything under themâthe company sent me a letter requesting me not to sell, but would pay our expenses, we remaining in possession, with which I complied, after consulting with Mr. Hall.

ALFRED E. RIDYARD . I live in Kentish Town, and am managing clerk to Mr. Jennings, of Walbrook, solicitor to Dr. Gilesâon August 9th I issued a writ against the cab company for Â£1,200, and got judgment on the 29thâI issued a fi fa on October 9th, which was put in the hands of Messrs. Wright and Odellâit was defeated by a prior executionâin December, 1899, I filed a petition in bankruptcy on Dr. Giles' claim, which was served on Hantke at Rutland YardâI went there with the concurrence of the trusteeâI got various documents and papers; amongst them was a letter from Mr. Hall to Browne, and one from Davies to the firm.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. Dr. Giles was a depositor in this companyâwhile the bankruptcy proceedings were going on there were negotiations with Mr. Underwood to provide working capital to carry on the concernâhe at one time contemplated taking the thing overâthe matter fell throughâMr. Nicholls, a member of the firm of Chatteris and Nicholls, was appointed trusteeâI got a list of depositors from the Morning Leader and other papersâthey had a manager employed in the yard named Woolleyâhe is hereâthere was a mortgage of Â£6,000 on the Rutland Yard premisesâthe mortgage was foreclosedâUnderwood was the founder of the new companyâhe bought the lease for Â£8,000; he sold it for Â£10,500âUnderwood was represented by the solicitor who acted for the companyâUnderwood is now on the board, and a large shareholderâthe company bought all the things from the trustee, an, I think, gave about Â£2,000 for the stockâmy principal drew up the memorandum and articles of associationâI am not a directorâHantke and Pindar helped me, as far as they couldâI think the business is capable of 7 per cent on its capital.

AMBROSE WILLIAM KING . I have been a solicitor's clerk, and was so employed by Browne & Co., of 44, Bedford Row, up to November lastâI know Daviesâabout four years ago Browne said to me, "Can you find Davies?"âI said, "I think I can"âI went to the Edgware Road, where I knew he was employed as a shopwalker in the Drapery Stores, 116 to 121âI said, "Browne asked me to come up and see you, as he wants to do some business with you"âhe said, "Will Browne come and see me, or shall I go down to see him?"âI do not know which happened, but they met, and Davies was frequently at Browne's officeâdepositors often called on Browne, and saw him in his private roomâBrowne said to me, "I understand Davies has been doing good business with the cab company; you ought to go up and see him," meaning to get commissionâI went and saw Davies at his shop, but I did not get the "com."âBrowne suggested that I should go to the cab company, and get my "com"âI went there, and saw a very tali man, and Pindar and Hantke, and Pindar gave me two black eyesâhe said I had no right to go, and struck meâthat was about two years agoâPindar has ever since treated me wonderfully wellâBrowne suggested that I should be the man in possession

at Dorset Yardâit was the September before I left Browne's employâBrowne went to Southampton on the Fridayâhe said, "We are going to sign judgment on Monday on Davies's claim for Â£2,000, and you will have to go into possession"âBrowne left town, and he wrote to the junior clerk, Johnsonâhe left a man named Lloyd in charge of the cab company's business, and Johnson heard from Browne on Monday morning, "Go over to Hall, and then go over to the Court and sign judgment," which he did, and Hall, was waiting while judgment was being signedâafter judgment had been signed I went with Hall to the Sheriffs officer, and he gave me a letter to the foreman of the yard, and I stopped there for six weeksâthis letter of November 17th, 1900, is in Browne's writingsâMarch 4th, 1898, is a press copy of a letter in Browne's writing, and addressed to Mrs. Core, Southendâ (Stating that the company looked a sound and increasing concern, and the dividends ere paid punctually every week, and they did not think she could do better than, at any rate, to give them a trial. Signed, "Browne & Co." Several other letters were shown to the witness, addressed to applicants for investment, and identified by him as being in the writing of Browne or his clerk.)

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONDS. The Magistrate was not rude to me; he misunderstood an unfortunate impediment in my speech for a man who was suffering from alcoholâwhen I went into possession Browne went to Southampton on important business respecting his father-in-lawâI know Mr. Hallâhe is absolutely respectableâI received Â£1 a week from Browne, and one-third of any business I introduced to himâunfortunately, through Browne not paying me the one-third, I got into domestic troubleâBrowne was doing business with the company, and got well paid.

HARRY FREDERICK CHIDDOCK . I am a clerk in the office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, Somerset HouseâI produce the file of the company known as the "United Horse and Carriage Company," which was registered on October 24th, 1900, by V. T. Lawrenceâthe names of the seven signatories appearâthe capital was Â£85,000 in Â£1 sharesâit was to take over and carry on the business of Messrs. Lawford & Lawrence, trading as the "London Co-operative Cab Company," together with all assets belonging to that businessâamongst the articles of association is one which provides that Lawford and Lawrence be managing directors at a salary of Â£350 a year each for three years.

DAVID JOHN PAGE . I live at Balham, and was in the employ of the cab company for three years, from 1897âSleeman showed me a list of cheques drawn to Thomas Davies, and I went through the original chequesâthey are endorsed "Thomas Davies," in his writingâthese cheques. (Produced) are endorsed by me, from Hantke's instructionsâthey are open chequesâI have been through the original cheques referred to in this listâthey are drawn in favour of H. Baldwin, and purport to be endorsed by himâI endorsed them by Hantke's instructionsâthey are open chequesâthis cheque is in favour of Davies for Â£25, dated September 14th, 1898âit purports to be endorsed by Davies, but it is Pindar's writing, I think.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. Hantke used to bring a cheque to me and ask me to endorse itâI was discharged by Pindarâthey said they could not afford to keep meâI think that was in September, 1900.

Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE. I should say Fuller did not sign chequesâthey were, I believe, all signed by LaurenceâI should say they are in Fuller's writingâthese deposit notes are signed in blank, and left to be filled inâthese are signed in the name of R. F. Hardingeâthe writing at the bottom is "R. F. Hardinge, per pro A. L."âthe signature to Mrs. Shergold's deposit note is Pindar's, in the name of R. F. Hardinge, initialled "A. L."âHardinge's duty in the office was to sign these deposit notes, and to interview callersâhe would sometimes take them out to show them the yards.

ELIAS BARR (Police Inspector). On August 13th last I saw Hantke and Pindar in Theobald's RoadâI told them I was a police officer, and held a warrant for their arrestâHantke said, "If that is so, we must go with you"âI took them to Bow Street, and the warrant was read to them, in which they were charged with conspiring to cheat and defraud people in connection with the London Co-operative Cab CompanyâHantke said, "The charge is absolutely unfounded"âPindar made no replyâthe same day I went to the Direct Jewellery Supply Company's office, 59, Hatton Garden, where I frequently had seen Pindar and HantkeâI saw Davies thereâI cautioned him, and took a written statement down from him as to his connection with the companyâI did not arrest him thenâI received a number of daily and other ledgers and cash books from the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy, which I showed to Cowley and WatkinsâBrowne was arrested on August 27thâI afterwards saw him at Bow Street, and read the warrant to him, which charged him with conspiring with others to defeat the ends of justiceâhe said, "I could have given you an explanation; I am not afraid of the consequences, can I send a telegram to my wife?"âI replied, "Yes"âhe said, "I only acted as solicitor to the company, but I gave them a reference occasionally: when I saw their last balance-sheet and Â£7,000 assets above their liabilities, I concluded that they were going on swimmingly. I induced them to turn their business into a limited liability company, and to give depositors 5 per cent. As to the execution by Davies, I did not act for Davies in it. I knew the solicitor who was acting against the company, and I saw him about it, and they (Pindar and Hantke) have property worth about Â£1,500. They did not want to have a forced sale."

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I was for four or five days what we call "shadowing" Hantke and Pindarâmy object was to find Fuller.

FREDERICK KNELL (Police Sergeant E). I took Hantke to the station after Barr had arrested himâhe said, "Well, after so long! Well, we fought it out in the Bankruptcy Court, and I suppose we snail have to tight it out again"âon August 14th I went with West to Clovelly Road, Leigh, where I arrested FullerâI told him I was a police officer, and produced the warrant and read it to himâhe said, "I took these mortgagees to the stables, to show them to them. I examined the books of the company. It is due to me that the company was sold up. I gave information to the papers, and advised the depositors to withdraw their money"âwhen charged at the Police-station he pleaded not guiltyâon August 26th I was at Bury Street, Holborn, where I saw BrowneâI told him I should arrest him for conspiracy in connection with the cab

company, and also conspiring with Davies to defeat the ends of justice by causing bogus executions to be leviedâhe said, "I only looked after my costs; I never acted for Davies."

FREDERICK BECKLEY (Cross-examined byMR. CLARKE). I am manager of my brother's business, and do a good deal in horse-dealingâwe have sold horses from time to time to the cab company and visited their yards, occasionallyâit seemed to be a flourishing businessâwe started selling horses to them about November or December, 1898âwe did not sell for them; we often took horses back at a fair valuation.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. He sold a good many horses to the cab companyâwe only bought back the old "cast" horses as they are called, which we resoldâI have seen Lionel Smith at their places.

Cross-examined byMR. PERROTT. Browne has been a solicitor about 15 yearsâI have no cause to complain of him nor do I regret my introduction by him to the cab companyâI got my interest regularly.

ByMR. MUIR. discounted a couple of bills for Browne that he said were for costsâI was a creditor in Lawford and Lawrence's bankruptcyâBrowne got about Â£200 out of me on those bills, which I have never got back.

Hantke, in his defence, on oath, said that he was in the cab company's business as cashier from the commencement in 1898, but could not say whether it was solvent or not up to 1900; that it was prospering in 1900, when the comments in the papers undoubtedly injured it, and the takings dropped from Â£1,500 a month to Â£200; that the largest sum was turned over in 1900, when it was about Â£27,000; that horses were sold through Lionel Smith to the War Office; that on January 3rd, 1900, 15 horses were sold at 40 guineas per horse, Â£630; on December 13th, 1899, seven for Â£340, on December 26th, eight for Â£200; on January 20th, 1900, six for Â£300, on August 22nd, 1900, one for Â£45; that he received Â£1,200 by such sales in one day from Lionel Smith and others, and gave various other instances of sales; that he believed the company made a profit of 30 per cent, by legitimate trading; and the assets in the balance-sheet were, he believed, correctly stated; that some of the cheques were paid into the bank again, and some were cashed and endorsed and supplied to cover expenses; that cheques made out to Davies and haldwin were not endorsed by a clerk by his direction, or that if he did so, it was not done in secret; nor was Davies put up as a creditor of the company when pressure became inconvenient, though he got into possession, and kept others out; that cheques were always brought to him and signed in blank; that large sums were spent in advertisements, and the turnover increased, and other yards were opened, which necessitated expenditure, and, therefore, he expected to reap the profit, as Â£8,391 fresh capital came in in one year from February, 1899, and that Â£17,000 was paid for interest during the whole time; that the "Morning Leader" had nothing to support its statements, and that Â£8,000 had been appropriated by Hardinge; that except as to that sum, the books and balance-sheets were correct, but that some of the books were missing, and that every transaction with the War Office was settled within a day or two.

Pindar, in his defence, stated, on oath, that he was introduced to the company by a man named Huntingdon, whom he believed to be respectable, and therefore, introduced him to Fuller, but that Huntingdon turned out to be

an ex-convict; that Huntingdon issued the prospectus, received all the money, and went away with some thousands of pounds, after which he (Pindar) consuited and decided to continue the business, as the profits were 12 per cent. in three years, and continued advertising, Hantke having brought in some more money, but that they did not inform the depositors that the money had been misappropriated; that Hantke brought cheques to him and asksd him to endorse them, to inflate the account, that it should look more successful, which he did on the undertaking that they should be paid in simultaneously with the drawing of them, so as to make the the total on each side bigger; that they paid Â£10,000 for Rutland Yard, and spent Â£ 1,500 on the repairs; that the horses and vehicles were insured against fire; that they were doing a very high class of business, and supplied the War Office and Lord Halsbury; and that he attributed the failure of the company to the reports in the "Morning Leader" and "Star," which were sent to the depositors, and four-fifths of them withdrew, and all the trade creditors came upon them, and the police withdrew some of the cab licences; and that Pindar was his real name, but that he took the name of Lawford at Huntingdon's suggestion, who was his employer at the time; that he admited the bogus judgment, and allowed it to be put in, and that it defrauded the depositors, but denied that he had received any profit from it.

Fuller, in his defence, stated, upon oath, that he was engaged by Pindar as secretary to the company at a salary of Â£4, and afterwards ofÂ£4 10s., and believed in its stability till January 5th, 1900, and on ceasing to do so he got one of the clerks to make out a list of the depositors and of the amounts standing in their names, and found among them the name of Half, who he knew had transferred his money to a man named Hughes, upon which he resigned, and went to Mrs. Harmer, and told her that he had left the company, and advised her to withdraw, he having promised her husband, when he was satisfied with the solvency of the company, to see after her interests; that when he signed letters he had no idea that their contents were false; that after leaving the company he gave information to Mr. Years, the editor of the "Morning Leader," and requested him to publish it, publicly exposing the swindle; and that it was at his request that a copy was sent to each depositor, after which he believed that Pindar and Hantke had hostile feelings against him, that he never examined the books from the time he entered to the time he left, and that the only money which passed through his hands was paid by depositors, and the ether money was cheques which came in letters, and passed through the banking account, and that he never had any shares in the company, and could not suggest what became of the Â£8,000, and did not know that Stanley Evans had gone away with the entire capital of the company, and that when he left the company owed him about Â£120.

Evidence for the Defence.

JOHN REGINALD YEARS . I am editor of the Star and Morning Leaderâin 1898 ten articles appeared about this cab company, and three in 1899âI had then before me the company's prospectusâthat was before Fuller came on the sceneâFuller afterwards came and showed me that the balance of money liabilities was about Â£15,000, and the article was the result of what he told meâI found that what he told me was correctâI believe the article of August 2nd was sent out by us, and

that of August 3rd by Fullerâthere is no justification of Pindar's statement yesterday that the account was in connection with the appearance of the articleâI warned him last night that a bad debt of Â£50 as the result of the advertisement of a man named Woolley, but there is nothing to indicate that such was the caseâI knew nothing about the advertisement till last nightâthe City office was kept distinct from the other, and I do not know anything about itâI said that I did not want him to be out of pocketâhe said that he did not want to receive anything, and I never paid him.

Cross-examined. The first interview was on July 20th or 25thâmy article consisted largely of extracts from the literature; it seemed to be a swindle, 65 per cent.âno action was taken against my paperâwe have a column dealing very largely with sundriesâFuller gave me a list of what was due to each depositor, and I pointed out that each of those depositors had claims in the balance-sheet, and he gave me information as to the posts of Hantke, Evans, and himselfâhe did not tell me what his object was in coming to meâI did not spare him at allâI took him with the rest.

MISSâ.(This witness's name was only given privately.) I was employed by this cab companyâMr. Laurence drafted all the letters, and Mr. Fuller some, which he brought to me to be typewrittenâI did not sit in his officeâno one else drafted letters.

Cross-examined. Hantke and Pindar were not in the office; they shared an office in the same buildingâI looked on Fuller as the principalâI went there first in November, 1897, and stayed on to the end, with the new managersâHantke seemed to do what he was told to doâI took them all to be my employersâhe occupied a subordinate position; he used to work very hard at the books, and Page was sometimes intoxicatedâthey remained there a month or twoâI do not think the Hansoms Company knew that I did work for himâI remember Pindar leaving; I do not know whyâhe used to walk up and down, and not speak to anybodyâthere was an estrangement in the office for a month before he leftâweekly payments of Â£5 a week were made for six weeks, or perhaps longerâwhen intending depositors came to the office Mr. Fuller saw them; I did not hear what took placeâI sometimes saw the letters to themâMr. Browne came there occasionallyâthe references were Mr. Shergold and Mr. BrowneâBrowne's name was given from the commencementâI thought Mr. Evans was only a visitor at the officeâI knew that Mr. Page drew cheques payable to Davies, but do not know what became of them.

Cross-examined byMR. SYMONDS. I made no copies of the lettersâI have sent hundreds of thousands of lettersâI had no special reason for remembering the earlier letters more than the later ones.

Cross-examined byMR. MOYSES. I do not know who discharged PindarâI had a holiday, and when I came back he was discharged.

Re-examined. I was not in Hantke's employ at Hatton Garden.

KâPRITCHARD (Detective, V). About the middle of June Fuller sent a letter to the station, saying that he wished to see meâhe said that Mr. Pindar had threatened to shoot him, and that they had had a row about business matters, and he wanted police protection.

GUILTY .â It was stated that Pindar and Hantke had been three months in custody, and that Pindar and Browne would be sent out of the

country.MR. MUIRstated that Davies bore a good character till he fell under the influence of the other prisoners, and that, having lost his wife and daughter nearly at the same time, he took to drink, which was the cause of his fall.âHANTKE, PINDAR, and BROWNE, Five years each in penal servitude âFULLER, Six years in penal servitude âDAVIES, Nine months' hard labour. The COURTcommended the police upon the excellent way in which the case had been got up.

OLD COURT.âSaturday, October 26th, 1901.

(For the case of John Price, tried this day, see Kent Cases.)

OLD COURT.âMonday and Tuesday, October 28th and 29th, 1901.

Before Mr. Justice Bigham.

764. MARTIAL FAUGERON (23) was indicted for and charged on the Coroner's Inquisition with, the wilful murder of Hermann Francis Jung.

MR. CHARLES MATHEWS andMR. BODKINProsecuted, andDR. O'CONNOR

andMR. DANFORD THOMASDefended.

The evidence was interpreted where necessary.

GEORGE HARTNELL (33 G) produced and proved a plan of 4, Lower Charles Street.

VICTOR DURAN .In September last I lived at 12, Whitfield Street, Tottenham Court Roadâtwo months before I gave evidence at the Police-court I met the prisoner at a club in Old Compton Street, Sohoâhe came and had meals at my house sometimesâhe had no money, and I fed him; he first came about eight days after I met himâhe used to come when he had no moneyâhe used to run on errands while he was coming to meâI have never known him do any regular work; I never knew him as a waiter at the Cafe Monicoâwhilst having his meals with me he used to use this knife (Produced)âhe carried it in his pocketâon September 3rd he was at my house between 12 and 1 p.m.; he and my wife quarrelled, and she told him to go awayâI asked him to have something to eat, and he declinedâhe had a pair of trousers, a vest and two or three shirts, besides the clothes he wore; he kept them at my houseâI had an old valiseâI gave him some shirts, and he packed them in the valise, which I told him to bring backâon September 3rd he had no moneyâI gave him 3s.âhe went away about 1 p.m.âthat was the last time I saw him till he was in custody.

Cross-examined. It was before I gave him the 3s. that he refused to take any food on that dayâhe said to me, "I have not a penny; I have no money"âthe quarrel with my wife was on account of the marketing; he had gone to get some things, and what he had brought did not please herâshe had given him 4s. or 5s.; he accounted for all the changeâhis clothing was kept at my house because he had no fixed domicile of his own, and did not know where to put them, and he asked me to keep themâI do not know where he slept; he told me he had just left Monico's, and William Averene, a carpenter, who introduced him to me,

told me that the prisoner had just leftâthe prisoner ran errands for anybodyâI did not know the deceased; I have never seen himâthe club when I met the prisoner is an Italian clubâI have only been there once; I am not a member.

MATILDA JUNG . I am the widow of the deceased, and have lived with him at 4, Lower Charles Street, Clerkenwell, nearly 14 yearsâwe were married 14 years ago on January 13th nextâI have two children, a boy and a girl; the boy will be 13 next November; the girl was four years and two months when her father diedâmy husband was a watchmakerâhe was 28 years older than I am; he would have been 65 on October 18thâwe occupied the whole of 4, Lower Charles Street, with the exception of the two top rooms; we had the basement, kitchen, the ground floor, and the first floorâmy husband used the front room on the ground floor as a workshop; we called it the front parlourâthe disposition of the room and articles in it is shown in this plan, as my husband was accustomed to have themâthe room under the workshop was the kitchenâmy husband was a most methodical manâas far as I know, I have been in his complete confidence all our married lifeâhe spoke five language; his nationality was Swiss; he spoke German, French, English, Spanish, and Italian, which he learnt laterâhe was visited from time to time by foreigners of different nationalitiesâhe used to help them to get work, and would give them money until they got workâhe had done so all our married life, and I understood it had been so for many years beforeâhe belonged to the Swiss Society for illness, which gave aid in case of illnessâso far as I know, he belonged to no other society except the Horological Society, which was connected with his own tradeâhis confidence in me extended to allowing me to open his letters, which I did occasionallyâI have never seen anything in his correspondence to lead me to think that he was connected with any dangerous political society, or with any political associationâhis days were parcelled out into different working hoursâhe generally went into his workroom about 10 a.m., and worked on and off till oneâthen we had dinner, and he would start work, and work till a quarter to half-past fourâthen we had tea, and he would work till sevenâon Saturdays he left off at oneâhe was very regular in taking his ease and in doing his workâfrom 1 to 2.30 he devoted to enjoying himselfâhe had a habit of going to the front doorâhe almost invariably did so even when wet, and he very frequently engaged in conversation with passers-byâpart of his work was to regulate timepieces given to himâhis particular time for that would be when he was getting them ready for sending home, which was at 5 p.m.âI always took themâthe stool in the workroom, which is immediately in front of the bench, is my husband's working stool, and he would sit on it doing his work in the ordinary course of thingsâin the front of the bench is the windowâthe drawer in the bench ordinarily contained the watches he was engaged uponâwhen he was seated at the bench at his work the drawer would be closedâthat drawer would generally contain the watches which he was going to send out that dayâI know there were some watches in that drawer on September 3rd, but I cannot say how manyâI did not know of a small oxydised watch in a manufacturer's big being in itâI know my husband had a small troublesome watch which

belonged to one of the manufacturersâthe proper place for deposit for that watch, if he was engaged upon it, would he in that drawerâit belonged to a Mr. Schneiterâmy husband had another watch from him, but it was finished, and would be in another drawerâthis iron (Produced) is called, I think, a boot lastâwe kept it to knock na ls out of boots, or to put on little pieces withâit was for casual purposesâit was not used by my husband in his businessâit was kept under the bench, farthest away from the door, on the left side, under the window, as you look towards the window from the doorâI used to assist my husband in his work when he was busy, and when doing so I would sit by the bench, and rest my feet or foot on that last, the way it is standing nowâthe last time I sat there was several weeks before September 3rdâbetween the time I had assisted my husband and September 3rd the iron had remained under the benchâso far as I know, it had not been movedâthe greater part of the window of the room is above the bench, and the smaller portion is below itâit looks into the streetâin the daytime light is thrown under the bench from the street through that part of the window below the benchâthe room is quite smallâI think anyone coming into the room and crossing to the bench could scarcely fail to see what was under the benchâmy husband had been previously married, and had had a family by his first wile, all of whom are grown upâhe loved my children passionatelyâabout 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3rd, I was in the front kitchen under the workshopâmy husband was standing on the doorstep leading to the street, as was his habit about that hourâI could hear two voices distinctly; one was my husband's; I did not know the otherâthey were speaking in Frenchâit was a friendly conversationâit went on till about 2.20, when they both went into the workroomâthey remained there till about 3 o'clockâI went to the door and spoke to my husbandâhe said, "I cannot come now, I am engaged"âI did not go into the room; I looked in, and saw the prisoner standing on my husband's right, and leaning on his elbow on the benchâmy husband was sitting at the bench on his usual stoolâthey both turned in my direction when I looked inâmy husband was sitting close up to the bench, workingâhe had a watch in his handâthe drawer could not be opened while he was sitting in that positionâthey seemed quite friendly towards each otherâI only begged my husband's pardon; I said another time would do as well, and left the roomâa short time after I wished to saw a shelf down out of a cupboardâthe saw was in the workshop by the side of the regulator, which stood in the left hand corner as you went inâa regulator is a large clock, which is used by watchmakers to regulate their watches byâI went in about 3.20, and took the sawâmy husband and the prisoner ware in just the same position as they were beforeâmy huband was still workingâthey seemed quite friendlyâmy husband said, "Well, what is it now?"âI said, "It is all right, I only want a saw"âI then went outâa little while later I went to the area, because I heard our milkmanâthere are two who have a cry very similarâthe area door is underneath the street doorâI called up to my husband, "Is that our milkman, dad?"âhe replied, "No, it is not ours"âI then went into the back kitchen, aad about 10 minutes afterwards, which would be about 3.56, I heard a scuffling of feet in the workroomâI ran up, and saw the prisoner just going out of the

street door, which was openâI went after him, and screamed out to stop himâI passed the door leading into the workshopâit was closed to within about 6in. or 8in.âI followed the prisonerâhe was running very fastâI followed him to the middle of St. John Street Road, where I saw a policeman take up the chaseâI then returned to the house, and went into the workroomâthe door was still closedâI had no difficulty in pushing the door open, but when I opened it it just touched my husband's backâhe was lying with his head close to the chest of drawers, his feet pointing towards the window; his left arm was up to his faceâI do not remember the position of his right armâhe was bespattered all over with bloodâblood was also on the floorâthere seemed to be a great amountâI cannot say if he was aliveâI had to step over the body to get into the roomâa doctor was sent forâthe drawer containing the watches was open when I went into the roomâunder the bench I saw this knife (Produced), which I picked up and put on the benchâit seemed to me to be covered all over with bloodâit was openâI did not see the slightest indication of a struggle having taken placeâafter a short time the prisoner was brought back in custodyâthat was before the doctor arrivedâhe did not make a statement then; he remained there about 10 minutes before he was taken awayâthe doctor came and attended to my husbandâa policeman came, and took charge of the roomâthe Coroner's officer came, and my husband's body was taken away at 8.30 p.m.âthe room was locked up, and the key given to meâup to that time nothing was moved in the room except my husband's body, and my moving of the knife from the floor to the benchâI took two watches from the drawer in the bench, and two from another drawer on the opposite side of the roomâthat one opens with a spring, and nobody knew of it except my husband and myselfâI went into the room again on the 4th; all that was moved then were the watches in the drawer in the bench, some coppers, and a few sixpences; nothing else was doneâthere is a shutter to the window; it had been put up on the evening of the 3rd; it is an inside shutter, and has to be put up over the bench, and slid down into two groovesâI noticed some blood on the stool on the 3rd, and also in the working bench drawerâthere were also blood-marks upon the watches in the drawerâI did not notice blood on the window thenâthe police visited the room again on September 6th; I went in with themâI was there when the boot-last was found in its usual place; I think I went into the room almost every day after itâI did not look into the chest of drawers, which is opposite the working bench, where my husband kept some papersâon September 18th I took some newspapers from the floor, which had been placed round my husband's body, so that the doctor should not step in the bloodâI found under the papers this watch in a white cotton bag, which was very much stained with blood (Produced) it lay at my husband's back among the papersâI handed it to the policeâthe watch is one of the two belonging to Mr. Schneiterâexcept the scuffling of feet, I did not hear any other sounds from the workshopâI did not hear any sounds which would be occasioned by this piece of iron fallingâthe floor was of very old boarding; if the iron had fallen, I should have heard it; it is such a small houseâI saw blood-stains on the window from the outside; I did not see them from the inside, because the shutter was not taken down for two or

three weeksâthe stains were above the level of the benchâI do not know of any invoice or cheque for any sum of moneyâmy husband had a very small banking account at the savings bank, where they do not issue cheques.

Cross-examined. I believe the window of the workshop was open 3in. or 4in. from the topâthe front door was open during work hours, but not during meal timesâthe door of the room leading into the passage was wide openâthis iron was never used for any purpose connected with the doorâit is not necessary to move the bench in order to adjust the shutter of the windowâI understand FrenchâI cannot swear that the prisoner was in conversation with my husband on the doorstep for an hour, but nobody else came to the door while they were there, and I heard two peoples' footsteps, while they were still in conversation, go into the workroomâI heard a word or two now and again, but not enough to know what they were talking aboutâthose members of my husband's first family who are not married work for their livingâthe floor of the workroom is very dustyâI used to clean it, but not very often, because the dust which was raised was very injurious to the watches, and my husband would not have it done often; the dust accumulated very quicklyâa new floor has been put down now as nobody would take the place as it wasâthe floor would be very dusty in a couple of daysâI do not think the prisoner and my husband were talking on either occasion that I went into the room, but I cannot swear to itâI said at the Police-court that they were on friendly terms, because my husband was working; if they had not been friendly he Would not have been workingâif I said at the Police-court that they were talking in French at 3.30, it is correctâwhen my husband was working he sat facing the windowâwhen I went in he was not annoyed with meâhe helped all the needy, whether they were old or young, but he tried to find work forthe young ones before giving them money, because he thought it best to do soâmy husband was a SocialistâI am not particularly clear what a Socialist is, but he certainly was not an Anarchist, as the prisoner's statements seem to indicateâI was at the funeralâthere were many persons there; I saw very few of themâI only knew a few of themâthere was a Mr. Bernard there, and Mr. Hymer, a German; Mr. Watts, a Socialist; Mr. Burrows, a Socialist; Mr. Lasassie, who is a member of the Old International Club; I do not know any others by nameâthere were three mourning carriages, and, I believe, one cabâMr. Bernard is a very old friend of my husband's; he is a FrenchmanâI think he is something in the French GovernmentâMr. Hymer is a bookbinder, I believe; I think he is a Conservativeâwhen I went into the room the conversation between the prisoner and my husband ceased, because my husband spoke to meâwhen I started to go up the stairs after the commencement of scuffling I heard what I thought was a fall, but it finished up the scuffleâit was not quite a fall; it was like a push against a partitionâit was not more than two minutes between the scuffling, and my running after the prisonerâI cannot say from what part of the room the sound of the fall cameâI ran after the prisoner, because I thought he must have stolen something, and if he was allowed to get away it would be lostâwhen I returned I thought my husband was deadâI did not move the body; I only shut his eyesâas far as I remember, his right arm was down at his sideâI am quite certain his arms were not

curled beneath his headâthe knife was lying under the bench, and I put it on the benchâit was after that that I saw Mrs. DanielsâI found it before the doctor cameâI made some additional statements, and gave them to the policeâI did so, hoping they would make matters clearâI wrote the things down without being requested toâwhen I went into the room, when the prisoner was talking to my husband, the drawer in the bench was shut both timesâhe could not work with it openâthere were blood-stains on the watches in the drawer, and on the money in it, and a little tin box had splashes on itâI do not know chat the piece of iron had blood on it; the stool hadâmy husband always kept old newspapers on the benchesâwhen I picked them up from the floor I picked them up en masseâI have burnt them sinceâit was unusual to find watches which had been left with my husband to repair anywhere except in the drawerâI do not know what work he was engaged upon when I went into the room; his back would be to meâI cannot swear when I last saw the boot-repairing iron before the murderâI think I should have missed it if it had been moved from its usual placeâI used to draw the money from the bank when any was drawnâI did not draw it very often, perhaps every two or three weeks, only small accounts for housekeepingâI think the amount I last drew was about Â£2âwhen you want to draw money you have to sign an order which the bank gives you, and then you go to another part of the bank and draw the money, or you can send the order signedâmy husband used to sign the paper which he got from the bank, and I would take it and get the money; nobody went except myselfâI cannot remember when I last drew any money out before September 3rd, but it was not more than Â£2; it was never more than that.

FRANCES DANIELS . I am the wife of Henry Daniels, and live at 6, Lower Charles StreetâI knew Mr. and Mrs. Jung; they lived next door but one to meâI was at home about 3.55 p.m. on September 3rdâI heard a screamâI ran into the street, and saw some people standing by the door of No. 4âI went to the door and into the passageâMrs. Jung went into the workroom door and stepped over the body of the deceasedâshe went towards the windowâI saw her pick this knife up from the benchâshe showed it to me (Produced)âshe laid it down again on the benchâafter a little while the prisoner was brought ioâI stayed all night with Mrs. JungâI was there when the doctor cameâit waa before that that I had seen the knife.

Cross-examined. When Mrs. Jung picked up the knife she said to me that she had found it on the floor under the bench, and had picked it up from there and put it on the bench before I got there.

CHARLES HENRY NORBURY . I am a jeweller, of 54, Arlington Street, and am employed in the day time at 7, Ryden Crescent, which connects St. John Street Road with Rosebery Avenueâon the afternoon of September 3rd I heard some whistles being blownâI ran out into Ryden CrescentâI saw the prisoner turning the corner of St. John Street Road from Rosebery Avenueâhe was running; he had no hat onâI followed, and, seeing him turn down St. John Street Road, I retraced my steps into Ryden Crescent, and there saw him coining towards meâwhen he saw me he stopped; he was very much exhaustedâI spoke to him, and he spoke

to me in a foreign language, which I did not understandâConstable Bevan came up and took him into custody.

Cross-examined. I saw blood on the prisoner's wristbands.

FRANCIS BEVAN (107 G). On September 3rd, about 4 p.m., I was in St. John Street RoadâI heard a police whistle in the direction of Ryden Crescent, and I saw the prisoner running from the direction of St. John Street Roadâseveral people were in chase of himâhe passed me, and went into Ryden Crescent, where the last witness stopped himâI took him into custodyâthere was a quantity of blood on his hands and on the cuffs of his shirtâPolice-constable Troughton came up, and in consequence of what he said we took the prisoner to 4, Lower Charles Streetâwe were met at the door by Mrs. Jung; she spoke to us, and we took the prisoner into the front roomâwe remained in the house about five minutes, when we took the prisoner to the City Road Police-stationâhe said something on the way in a foreign language, which I could not understandâan interpreter was obtained, and the prisoner was chargedâI searched him, and found 6d. in silver and 3d. in bronze on him.

Cross-examined. Except the money, I found nothing of value on himâhe had seven common studs on him, worth, I should think, about three for 1d.

WILLIS TROUGHTON (159 G). On September 3rd, about 4 p.m., I was on duty in Spooner Street, Clerkenwell; I heard a whistle blowing and a woman shoutingâI saw the prisoner running in front of the woman from the direction of Lower Charles Street; he went up Thomas Street, through a recreation ground and into Rosebery Avenue, then he went into St. John Street Road and into Ryden Crescentâhe was running the whole of the time; I followed him, blowing my whistleâin Ryden Crescent he was stopped by Mr. NorburyâI saw some blood on his shirt sleeve and handâI took him with Police-constable Bevan to 4, Lower Charles Street, where I saw Mrs. Jung; she made a statement, after which I went into the workshop on the ground floorâI saw the deceased lying on the ground, with his back to the door; when the door opened it just touched himâthere was a large quantity of blood near his head and backâI saw a wound on the right side of his neckâso far as I could see at the time; he was deadâI saw this clasp knife on the bench in front of the window; I took possession of itâthe larger blade was open; there was blood upon itâthe prisoner was taken away by Bevan and another constableâI remained in charge of 4, Lower Charles Street till 9.20 p.m.âI noticed blood on the bench in front of the window, in the drawer, and a few splashes on the top of the benchâthere was blood on the stoolâthere was another knife on a chest of drawers by the deceased's headâit is a small clasp knife (Produced) it was openâthere was a small quantity of blood on itâwhile I was there the Coroner's officer came for the purpose of seeing and removing the body, which was done shortly before I leftâI then left the room in charge of Mrs. JungâI shut the door, but did not lock itâMrs. Jung kept the key.

Cross-examined. I found the second knife about 8 or 9 o'clock, and the first about 4 o'clockâI did not notice this piece of ironâit was daylight when I got there, but I put a sheet in front of the window, because

people were looking inâI made an additional statement, because I was asked to do so by my inspectorâhe did not dictate to me what I was to say, I said what I knewâI was asked questions, and I answered then

JOHN BRYANT (11 GR). I act as Coroner's officer for the Clerkenwell DistrictâI got information on September 3rd, about 8.30 p.m., and went to 4, Lower Charles Street, with Mr. Ward, an undertaker, and the body of the deceased was removed to the mortuaryâthe room was in charge of the policeâwe did not move anything in the room except the body.

Cross-examined. I saw some newspapers near the bodyâI did not see a cotton bagâthe room was very dark at the time.

EDWIN GREEN (Police Inspector, G). About 4.30 p.m. on September 3rd I went to 4, Lower Charles Streetâthe police were in charge of the premisesâI examined themâI saw no signs of a struggle having taken place in the roomâI saw the prisoner, about 5.30 p.m., at the City Road Police-stationâhis wrist-band had blood on it, and there was a spot of blood on the front of his shireâit was not till 8.30 p.m. that he was charged, an interpreter having to be foundâMr. Pembo was found, and the prisoner was chargedâwhen he was charged the knife was on the desk, and he said in French, "That is my knife"âthat was the larger oneâthe inquest took place on September 5thâafter it was over I was with the prisoner and Mr. Pembo, when the prisoner made a statement, which Mr. Pembo interpreted, and I took down in my note-bookâ(Read:"We were four of us Anarchists frequenting Jung's house; deceased used to give us instructions as to our movements. Two were to start for Brussels last Saturday or Monday, but only one could go at the time, and that was the man Dotts. I think he is a Gennan, aged about 25, about my height, and he started for Brussels to try and murder the Czar, who is due to come to France. This man has been specially sent by Jung to await the arrival of the Czar, and another man, a Swiss, was to go and join him. I did not know the name of the Swiss, but he is the father of two children, and lives in Soho. Jung used to pay for the lodging of Dotts. I do not know the name of the street, but it is on the other side of the water, and I have shared his lodgings for six days. The fourth man is known under the name of 'Gustave, the Anarchist', and he lives in a street, No. 40, of which I do not know the name, but it is near to Victoria, on the other side of the water, and they change the omnibus horses almost next door to it. There is another Anarchist whose acquaintance I have made when frequenting the house of Jung. He is a native of St. Malo, and is a watchmaker by trade, and the deceased has, or had, his tools, as he was going to send him away also. On the morning of the murder the deceased made out an invoice for Â£10 10s., and said that he was going to cash it, and give me the money in order to dress myself decently for the job he wanted me to do. He said to me, 'All the misery of the Transvaal War is due to Mr. Chamberlain; we must make an example of him. You are going to wound him seriously, though without taking his life.' I made the acquaintance of Jung through Dotts. One day, after I had left my work at the Cafe Monico, I was talking to a girl opposite the Swiss Cafe. Soho, when Dotts, who happened to know the same girl, took part in the conversation. After a time the girl left us, and Dotts asked me to go and have a drink with him. I casually told him

that I had lost my occupation, and he said, 'It is very stupid of you to work; come with me, and I will take you to a house where you will get plenty of everything without having to do any work.' He then took me to Jung's house, and introduced me to him. will swear to every word of this statement. (Signed) MARTIAL FAUGERON"âI saw the piece of iron at 4, Lower Charles Street, on September 3rdâit was standing underneath the bench in the left hand corner of the room, looking towards the window from the doorâI did not examine it on that dayâon September 6th I went again to 4, Lower Charles StreetâI saw the piece of iron in just about the same place as I had seen it on September 3rdâI examined itâI saw it was dusty before I moved it; when I touched it the dust soiled my handsâI replaced it again then; I noticed there were stains on itâI took it away on the 12thâI kept it till September 27th.

Cross-examined. The whole of the prisoner's shirt was not saturated with bloodâI did not refer to the iron at the Police-court on September 11th because Mr. Pembo advised me not toâmy report continues. "At this time the two warders who were in charge of the prisoner stated that their cab was waiting, and that they must go; hence the reason of the conversation ceasing. As stated in other reports on this matter, the prisoner does not speak English; therefore any information we required we could only obtain through and with the assistance of the interpreter. Thinking this information might have been important, we at once went to New Scotland Yard, and saw Inspector Quinn, of the special branch, but none of the names in question were known in the office. During the time the prisoner has been in custody, and throughout this conversation, he could not or would not give any particulars of names or addresses or any other material upon which we could make any inquiry, although professing to be anxious to assist us in every possible way"âthe prisoner said he was helping us by telling us of Dotts and other thingsâI was present at the house on the day of the funeralâI did not go to Finchley with itâthere was a considerable crowdâI was in charge of the policeâthere were two or three coaches in the procession, and three or four people in eachâI only followed to Upper Street, where the police were dismissedâI noticed some newspapers in the workroom; they were put over the blood on the doorâI did not raise themâI did not see a linen bag thereâI had only seen the deceased once beforeâI did not make a list of the things in the room which had blood upon them.

BENJAMIN MORGAN (Detective Inspector, G). I went with Inspector Green to this workshop on September 6thâI was present when he found the ironâit was standing under the bench in the left hand corner of the room, looking from the doorâGreen showed it to me; it had two or three stains on it, apparently blood, and it was covered with dustâI should say it had not been moved for some timeâI searched the room, and particularly the bench, where the deceased had been working, and also the chest of drawersâI did not find an invoice or a cheque referring to any sum of money, or any document of the kind, or any bill made out to anybody for any workâI did not find anything to suggest that the deceased had belonged to a dangerous gang or class.

Cross-examined. I looked all over the room for a piece of paperâthere

were some old newspapers on the floorâwe did not find this gun metal watch underthemâI searched through the papersâthe papers were adhering to the floor through the bloodâI did not detach themâwe reported the case, and the gentleman conducting the prosecution said he did not think the piece of iron had any bearing on the crime, and we did not call evidence in respect to thatâI was not called before the Magistrate or the CoronerâI should say that two days would not be sufficient to make the iron as dusty as it was.

EDWIN GREEN (Re-examined). I searched the chest of drawers in the roomâI did not find any warrant or document for the payment of Â£10 10s.

Cross-examined. I did not raise the paper from the floor.

The prisoner's statement before the Magistrate:"What I have to say before the Jury I can say here, therefore I wish to say it. I wish to state how I made the acquaintance of the deceased. About six weeks ago I was standing in front of the Cafe Suisse, near Piccadilly. I had been out of work for a few days then, and I met there a woman whose acquaintance I had made in France. While I was speaking to her another man, who happened to be acquainted with her, joined in the conversation. After a few minutes the woman went away and left us. The man with whom I was left took me for a walk for about half an hour, and then we came back together to the Cafe Suisse, where we had a drink. I told him I had just lost my situation at the Cafe Monico, and I should like to find some work. He said, 'What do you want to work for? You can live in London without work; I can take you to a house, where three of us are in the habit of going, and which we are in the habit of calling "God's House." There you will find everything you may possibly want, provided only that you promise its owner to do as he directs.' He left me then, but made an appointment to meet me there on the morrow at 2 o'clock. I met him at 2 o'clock next day, but he was not alone; he was accompanied by two others. He said to the other two, pointing me out, 'This young man I am going to make acquainted with the president of our society.' The two newcomers left me after some time, and I started with my new acquaintance, and we came by'bus to a spot near the house of the deceased. When we reached the workshop of the deceased I was introduced by my companion, and the deceased said he was very pleased to make my acquaintance. He asked me where we came from, and I said, 'We Came from the French quarter by 'bus.' He pointed out to me that it was absurd that some people should have their pockets full of gold, whereas others had no money at all, and he added, 'There must be equality for everybody.' He asked me if I could read or write, and on my answering in the negative, said, 'You must come and see me often, when I will teach you a good many things.' Then, in order to show his pleasure to Dotts, the man who took me to the house, he gave Dotts Â£1, and gave me 15s. He saw us to the door, and then told me, 'Come here as often as you possibly can; you can also come of a Sunday, but if you don't see me at the workshop don't knock at the door.' I have been to his house five times in all. The third time I was there a youngster came and called the deceased; he excused himself by saying he was wanted elsewhere, and I must go back to him the following day. Every time I used to go to his

house he spoke to me always in the same station. The last time I was there, last Tuesday week, the 3rd of this month, I met him standing at his door. After remaining on the doorstep for five or ten minutes at the very outside, be asked me to come inside his workshop, and said, 'Either this will be the last time you come here, or you will be able to come as and when you please.' When we were inside he asked me not to speak too loudly, and began mentioning the name of Chamberlain and the Transvaal War. He said, Don't you think all the misery of that war is due to Chamberlain, and that he deserves to be stabbed, just to feel a little of the misery he inflicts on others?' He added,'I am not rich myself, but I will undertake, through intermediaries, to guarantee a fortune to the man (un brave) who will do that deed.' He then took bold of my hand, and pulling out a drawer, he showed me that he had made out an invoice for Â£10 8s. or Â£10 10s., and he said, 'This amount will be placed at your disposal, so that you may dress yourself decently, in order to accomplish the end in view.' On that he sat down and said, 'It is wonderful bow I have changed within the last three years. Nevertheless, don't be afraid, you won't be alone in that business; you will have the help of a Swiss who is the father of two children, You won't see Dotts any more, because he has left last night, in company with another, to go and accomplish their duty, and I hope you will do the same, with the help of the other man I am going to give you.' He said, 'I mentioned Chamberlain to you; what do you say to that?' I answered, 'I could not do it.' Then he said, "I must have handed you about Â£5 in money since you have been in the habit of coming here; give me back my Â£5, and then we will be as good friends as if nothing bad happened. 'I told him that I had spent the money, and he knew that I had no money. The deceased then said, 'You must give me the money, or you won't leave this place.' The deceased then went towards the door, to close it, and in the meantime he armed himself with a piece of iron in the form of an anchor. He then said that he was quite old enough to kill somebody, considering that his children were grown up and were working for their living. He thereupon threw the piece of iron, towards me, and while dodging the blow I slipped on something and fell under the counter. When I was on the ground he came threateningly towards me, and it was then that I pulled out my knife with my left hand, opened it with my teeth, and gave the blow. When he was approaching me the second time he said, 'A good many others like you have done me before, you rascal,' and these were the last words he spoke. I say that I committed the crime, and I plead guilty to it, but I add that when I committed the crime I was on my legitimate defence; I never intended to kill him. Unfortunately I gave him a blow on a vital part. I regret it very much, not for the deceased, but for his family. That is all I have to say, and, according to my idea, I have rendered a great service to Europe."

CHARLES PEMBO . I live at 8, Argyll Place, Regent Street, and am the official interpreter to the North London Sessionsâon September 3rd, about 7.45 p.m., I was called to the City Road Police-stationâI saw the prisoner and several police officers thereâI was told the charge against the prisoner

by the inspector, and I interpreted it to him; he made no replyâwhile I was interpreting the charge this white-handled knife was produced by a police constable, and the prisoner said in French, "That knife is mine"âI was present at the inquestâMrs. Jung gave evidence, which I interpreted to the prisoner as she gave itâshe said in English that she saw the prisoner run out of the door; I interpreted that to the prisoner, and he said, "Yes, it was me who ran out"âafter the inquest I was in the yard out ride the Court at Clerkenwellâthe prisoner was in a room in charge of two wardersâI went in, and the prisoner asked me if I knew when he would appear before a juryâI told him that before appearing before a jury he would have to appear once or twice before the Magistrateâhe then said, "I wish to let you know how I became acquainted with the defunct"âhe began the statement which has been readâI asked him if he objected to its being taken down by the policeâhe said, "No; I wish it to be taken down in writing; I will sign it and swear to it"âI translated what he said word for word, and I saw Inspector Green taking down from my dictationâon September 11th, before the Magistrate, this small knife was producedâthe prisoner disclaimed proprietorship of itâhe said, "The one with the white handle is mine; the other does not belong to me; I never saw it before"âhe was then asked if be would make a statement in the usual courseâhe did so, and I translated it sentence by sentence while the Magistrate's Clerk took it downâthe statement just read is the oneâon September 3rd, at the station, I asked the prisoner whether he had been for a long time in Englandâhe said for about two months only, and that he had left the military service in France only a short time ago; that he had served in the Marine Artillery; that he was a hairdresser by trade; that he came to London to find work in that line, failing which, he accepted the offer to act as under-waiter at Monico's Cafe; that he lost his situation there after four or five weeks, and he was looking for work when the occurrence in question happened, and that he had been running errands and frequenting railway stations in order to obtain jobsâI asked him where he had been sleepingâhe said he had had no domicile for several nights, but that the night before, that was September 2nd, he had slept in a lodging-house, where he had had to pay 6d. for a bedâhe gave his age as 23.

Cross-examined. The prisoner claimed ownership of the white-handled knife twice, to my knowledge.

LESLIE HADEN GUEST . I am a registered medical practitionerâmy address is now in North WalesâI used to live at 89, Goswell Roadâon September 3rd I was called to 4, Lower Charles Streetâin the workshop I saw the deceased lying on the ground on his left side, with his face turned away from the doorâhis left arm was curled up under his head, his right arm was hanging loose by his side; his body was still warm, but he was deadâthere was a very considerable quantity of blood round the upper part of his body on the floorâafter pulling away his working smock I saw a wound on the right side of his neck about half-way between the jaw bone and the collar bone, and 3in. in lengthâI only made a short examination then, which was corroborated by my subsequent examinationâit was an incised wound penetrating all the tissues of the spinal column, including the internal jugular vein, the common carotid

artery, and penetrating the tracheaâit was a very severe wound indeed, and must have been inflicted with considerable violenceâit could have been inflicted with the larger blade of this knifeâI saw blood on other parts of the floor, and also on the stoolâI did not notice the drawer or the windowâwhen I got there the room was darkenedâI cannot say from the condition of the wound what position the deceased was in when the blow was inflictedâI saw no signs of a struggle in the roomâa man who had received such a blow as this would not be capable of standing for longâhe might stand or run for, at the outside, two minutesâhe could run until he dropped deadâI made a postmortem examination next dayâthe cause of death was loss of bloodâthere were no other injuries of any kind.

By theJURY. My own opinion is that the wound was inflicted from above downwards.

Cross-examined. I should suggest that the wound was from without inwardsâit was below the level of the prominence in the front of the throatâit was the largest artery in the neck which was severedâthe blood from that artery would spurt out very forciblyâthere was no blood immediately round the wound when I got there, although there was blood in the woundâthe blood which had come out had trickled backwards over the back of the neck; that would suggest that that part of the neck was lower than the rest, but the quantity there was very small, and it might have welled up out of the woundâthere would be trickling, after the man tell downâthere was a clot of blood in the wound; that would not distend the edges of the woundâthe wound was deeper towards the inner endâif the skin were tight, the knife would rip it upâI think the edge of the knife was directed towards the inner lineâthe blood near the window might have been shot out of the blood-vesselâthe room was so small that blood spurting anywhere, wherever the man was, might have reached the walls and possibly the ceilingâI did not see any on the ceilingâI think the deceased was leaning over the prisoner when the wound was inflicted.

Re-examined. I think it more probable that the wound was inflicted when the prisoner was standing over Jung, not Jung over the prisoner.

ByDR. O'CONNOR. I think a man could inflict a wound like this if he was lying as the prisoner describes his own position, but not without difficulty; I do not think it probable in this case.

JAMES SCOTT . I am Medical Officer at Hollowayâthe prisoner was detained there after September 4thâI got a request from him to write a letter for himâI went to his cell and wrote this letter for him in French at his dictation, and he signed itâI forwarded it to the Director of Public Prosecutions, at the prisoner's request.â(This, being translated, was addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and stated that he had learned that the police had not found the piece of iron which the deceased had thrown at him; that it remained near the deceased's body after his death; that it was in self-defence that he caused the death of the deceased, and that, if he was taken to the scene of the murder, he would point out the size and shape of the piece of iron, and, if necessary, draw a sketch of it.)

GEORGE RILEY (Police-Sergeant). I went to Holloway Prison on October 3rd, and saw the prisonerâI took with me the boot-repairing iron, and

showed it to the prisonerâI speak French, and when I showed the prisoner the iron he said, "That is the iron I referred to in my statement before the Magistrate at Clerkenwell Police-court"âhe then made this statement in French', which I took down and he alignedâ(Translation read: "Jung and I were in conversation at the bench in front of the window at which he was working, and this conversation continued till about 3.30 p.m., when the dispute arose between us. In the course of the dispute Jung asked me to return to him the money which he had advanced to me at different times to the amount of Â£4 18s., viz., 15s., 47s., 15s. and 21s., and I told him I had no money. It was then that Jung went to the Workshop door, which he closed and put his back against, and then for the first time I saw this iron, which, as I have before stated, was lying behind the door. We had come to very high words, and Jung was very angry. He then picked up this iron and came towards me as I was standing by the bench, close to the spot where Jung had been working, and he threw the iron at me, and it fell on the floor underneath the bench, close to where he had been working at the extreme corner of the room from the door. When he threw the iron at me, I to avoid the blow, slipped down on to the floor on my right side, with my right arm underneath me, and as he was following me in a threatening manner I took the knife from my outside left-hand jacket-pocket with my left hand and opened the blade of the knife with my teeth, and as he was leaning over me I stuck the knife into his neck. He then fell back on to the floor, the blood pouring from his neck. I then got up from the floor, opened the door, and rushed out into the street, followed by some person shouting, and later on I was stopped, and taken in charge by the policeman. I cannot read either French or English, and I do not know what was on the invoice or cheque to which I have referred in my statement before the Magistrate beyond what Jung told me. Jung had previously opened the first drawer in a chest of drawers near the door, and he took out of it the paper which I have mentioned; he doubled it up and held it, so that I could see it, and said to me, 'I have thought of you,' and I replied to him, 'Then you work for us.' Jung said, 'No, no; it is an advance, and I shall be repaid.' Jung told me that the paper he held in his hand was for Â£10 8s. or Â£10 10s., and that if I called upon him at 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock the following morning or the afternoon, I should have the money. But when I refused to do what he wanted me to do, he asked me to return to him the money he had already advanced, and, as I have before stated, the quarrel then began. Jung then put the paper back into the same drawer, and shut the door, and commenced the attack upon me. When Jung gave me the sums of money I have mentioned he always paid me in coins, and never at any time any paper. The only person who ever went to Jung's house with me was the man Dotts, whom I mentioned in my statement before the Magistrate, but I never knew where he lived, and I do not know where he can be found. This has been read to me ill French, and it is all true, and I have signed my name to it as being true."

Cross-examined. This is the first time I have been heard in this case in CourtâI have not visited the workshopâI have lived five and a-half years in France.

âWRIGHT. I took this piece of iron from the last witness, and submitted it to Mr. Guest.

L.H. GUEST (Re-examined). I examined this piece of ironâthere were stains upon itâtwo of them yielded crystals showing the presence of blood.

The prisoner, in his defence, on oath, said that when he struck the deceased he did so in his legitimate defence, and repeated the facts as given in his statements. He admitted that he had deserted from the French Army in 1899, and was condemned to five years' imprisonment in France, for abuse of confidence, falss declaration, and for being the bearer of false papers. He also stated that the words in his statement "We were four of us Anarchists," were incorrect: and that he was not an Anarchist.

CHARLES PEMBO (Re-examined). All that has been put down in English is the correct translation of what the prisoner said in Frenchâhe said, "We were four of us Anarchists," and I translated it.

BENJAMIN MORGAN (Re-examined). I have been within the last hour to 4, Lower Charles Street, and have brought back with me the top of the bench in the work room (Produced)âit is the one which was in front of the window.

GUILTY .âRecommended to mercy by two of theJURY.â DEATH.

OLD COURT.âWednesday and Thursday, October 30th and 31st; and Friday and Monday, November 1st and 4th, 1901.

765. ANTHONY JAMES, CHARLES EWART DAVIES and JOHN CORAM, Conspiring to defraud the Secretary of State for War of valuable securities, and to obtain money by false pretences, with intent to defraud.

GEORGE RICHARD GRIER . I am a captain in the Army Service Corpsâsince October, 1899, I have been stationed at Hobbs' Point, Pembroke Dock, at the upper end of Milford Havenâat Hobbs' Point there are offices of the Army Service CorpsâDavies was employed there under meâhe was a corporal, with the local rank of sergeantâthere are also offices at Hobbs' Point of the Army Ordnance Departmentâlarge quantities of ordnance stores are kept there of every descriptionâthere is a wharf attached to the stores for the purpose of trans-shipment of goodsâthere are a number of forts in Milford Haven for which stores from time to time are requiredâimmediately outside Hobbs' Point there is a place called Neylandâthere is a steam ferry between Hobbs' Point and Neyland which belongs to Coram & Co., whose offices are at Neylandâfor some years they have held the water transport with the Army Ordnance Department and the Army Service Corpsâthey had the transport of stores from the Ordnance Wharf at Hobbs' Point to the different fortsâI knew Coram and James; I had to see them on matters of businessâI went to their offices occasionallyâI think James might be called Coram's managing clerkânobody else was in the office, to my knowledge, except Coram and Jamesâthey sat in separate roomsâDavies was employed as clerk under me in charge of the office dutiesâunder Davies

there was a civilian clerk, named Hopkinsâit was the duty of the Army Service Corps to arrange for the transp ort of stores both by land and by waterâthe requisitions for stores from the forts went to the Ordnance Department, where an issue note was made outâI believe it was the duty of the person making out the issue note to specify the goods, and their weight or measurementâthey also made out a carrier's note, and the person making out that, should specify on it the goods, and their weight and measurementâit was not their duty to put in the carrier's nameâthe carrier's note was then sent to us without the carrier's nameâthe carrier's notes would come into Davies' handsâhe would be acquainted with the contractors who held the various contracts for transport, and it was his duty to fill in the contractor's nameâhe should then enter in a book, called Army Book 226, the particulars of the carrier's notesâthere would be the date of the receipt of the note, the goods, the weight or measurement, the carrier's name, and the destinationâhe should then bring me the book and the carrier's note, and my duty would be to see that the voucher was entered correctly, and to put my initials into the bookâI would take the book, and Davies would call out the particulars on the notes to meâhe would then send the carrier's note to the contractor, whose duty it was to carry the goodsâI believe the notes were generally forwarded by passing them to Coram's ticket collector on the ferry, to send across by the next boatâit was not Davies' duty to take the notes acrossâit was no part of his duty to go across to Coram's office without my permission, during business hoursâI remember him only going over on one or two occasions; that was with my permissionâthe contractor's bargeman, or captain of the steamer, or whoever received the carrier's note, would then take it to the wharf for the purpose of loading the stores, which would be done by the Army Ordnance Departmentâthe carrier's note would tell the contractor's bargemen where to take themâit was his duty to get the consignee's receipt for themâhe would get the receipt on the carrier's note, which was kept as a voucher until the account of the contractor was sent in to our departmentâCoram's accounts were sent in quarterly, and when they were sent in there should be the whole of the carrier's notes making up the items of the accountâthey would come into Davies' hands, and it was his duty to examine the accounts and check them by the vouchers and to see whether the charges made were in accordance with the contract, and to see if a proper rate was being chargedâthe conditions of the contract were so much for the ton or 40 cubic feet measurementâthe goods would be charged by the weight or measurement; whichever was the most would be chargedâif any query arose on a bill it was Davies' duty to bring it to my notice, and also if there was any difference between the accounts and the various entries in Book 226âhe would also enter the amount of the account with the carrier's name and date in a book called the bill bookâhe would then bring the bill book and the account to me, and my duty would be to see that, it was entered up into the bill book correctly, and to sign the accountâthe bills are made out on forms supplied by the War Officeâwhen I certified the accounts as "correct in all particulars," all I knew was that the bill corresponded with the bill book, and that Davies told me it was

all rightâI did not know if the entries were right or wrong, except as regarded the rate, which I carried in my headâas a matter of practice, I did not look through the vouchers when making out the account; I did now and againâit was not Davies' duty to summarise the vouchersâExhibit No. 3 is a voucher for some cases of fuses, and underneath their weight and measurement I find a list of 12 other items which correspond with a number of sub-vouchers, which were summarised on this sheetâit was not Davies' duty to do that, but it saved the trouble of looking through the sub-vouchersâI did not look through the sub-vouchersâI think Davies explained that it would save a number of entries in Book 22G, so he lumped them togetherâthat was not lightâI did not order him to alter it, because I did not know that it was not rightâhe informed me it had been done on some previous occasionâthe accounts were forwarded to Devonport, and if the accounts were over Â£100 they were forwarded from there to Londonâpayment would be made by the War Department at Devonport if they were under Â£100, and from London if over Â£100âI believe payments were made by pay warrants direct to Coramâit was not Davies' duty to measure goods which were loaded on the bargesâif any stores arrived without any note at all, it would be his duty to measure them and to obtain a carrier's note as soon as possible from the consignor, whoever he might be, to cover the transportâthe word "covering" would be written on the noteâAbout the end of April or the beginning of May last there was a query in reference to one of Coram's accounts; it was in regard to a bill for Â£96 3s. 4d., up to March 31st, 1901âI pointed out certain alterations to Davies in the vouchers, which increased the weights by altering the figures of the stores carriedâhe could not say whether the whole of the alterations were his or not, but those that were his he had made because the weights given by the Army Ordnance Department were incorrectâhe said he had been in the habit of measuring the stores with the assistance of the Army Ordnance foreman, named Law, and had so discovered the discrepancy, and that he had altered the weights, so that Coram should be correctly paidâthe alterations in this bill were all in the same direction, to get more money for CoramâDavies said the stores were at the Ordnance Wharf, and that he had measured them there after they had been placed on the bargeâto a certain extent I accepted that as an explanation of the suspicion of fraud which was arisingâI said a great deal to him, but I cannot remember all I said nowâI went through the account for Â£96 3s. 4d. item by item, after which I went to Coram's office; I think it was in the earlier part of MayâI saw Coram there, and called him outside the office into a sort of yardâI had not seen James that morning before I began to speak to CoramâI told him that various alterations had been brought to my notice in the account for Â£96 3s. 4d., which involved over-payment to him by the Government, the weights in the items having been increasedâI said I had seen Davies, and had asked him for an explanation, and that Davies had said that the weights had been altered to include the excess weight which he had found on the bargeâI said I was most anxious to get to the bottom of the matter, and asked him if his bargeman could assist me by throwing any light on the matterâhe said, "Let us call James; he manages all

these things for me"âhe called James out of the office, and I repeated to him what I had said to CoramâJames said the weights were charged as they were received from Davies, and, from what their bargeman had told them, they had carried hundreds of tons for the War Office more than what they had been paid forâso far as I remember, I left them thenâI went and saw Coram once woreâI do not remember if it was after the matter of the target had been found outâat a later date I told Coram that his contract was to be stoppedâI also had after the bill for Â£93 3s. 4d., some queries about a bill for Â£180 7s. 7d., up to June 30th, 1900, in which the target is includedâI should think the charge for towing a Richardson Record target from Hobbs' Point to Popton would be about Â£2 or Â£3âwhen this bill came before me with the queries I asked Davies how he came to pass the charge for towing as a charge for freightâhe said it had escaped his notice when he examined the billâon the bill it is entered as 163 tons 32 ft, which, at 5s. a ton, would be Â£41âafter that I met James casually outside the railway station at Neylandâat that time I did not know that the War Office tug Drake had towed the targetâI asked James how he came to make such an enormous charge for towing the target to Popton, and I mentioned the amountâhe said he regarded it as a fair charge under the terms of their contract, and that as no query had been raised, he gathered that the War Office had admitted the charge as fair and reason ableâthe account had been paid thenâI do not think I said any more then; I had to catch the steam ferry at the timeâI expressed my surprise that he should have done soâin the account for Â£180 7s. 7d. the charge is made for freight, and not for towing, which would mean that it was carried on board a bargeâthe targets are frameworks of wood which float in the water and are towed up and down by tugs, to be fired at by the fortsâthis is a photograph of one (Produced); you could not get them on a barge; they are not taken to piecesâI saw Davies again about the matter, and asked him how he came to pass the charge, and he then said he had passed it as a fair and reasonable one under Coram's contractânot more than two weeks elapsed between the time I saw James, and when I saw Davies the second time about itâI cannot remember having had any conversation with Coram about the targetâwhen the questions about the account for Â£180 7s. 7d. arose Coram's contract was stoppedâthat was about the middle of May, 1901âI wrote to him about it, and saw him afterwardsâI told him I had orders not to employ his firm any longer in conveying stores, in consequence of the inquiries made into his accounts and the discovery of the over-payment which had been made to himâhe said he was unaware of any over-payments having been made, but if any had been made he was ready to refund them to the publicâI had suggested that to him, and I suggested that he had letter write and do soâI never suggested to him that he had been paying Davies anythingâafter my conversation with him I heard something about the Drake having towed the targetâI told Divies that I had been informed that the Drake had towed the targetâhe said he was confident that the service had been carried out by Coram & Co., and that the other clerks in the office were aware of that factâin May I called upon Davies to make some explanation of these

alterationsâhe made this report voluntarily on May 30th, 1901â(This stated that the toted tonnage shown on each of the vouchers of the account for Â£96 3s. 4d. from Coram was correct, and had been measured by him; that he had carried out that duty since relieving Sergeant Ashby in 1899, and that he was usually assisted by one of the A.O.D. subordinates; that he was most careful in taking the measurements, folly understanding that upon them the contractor was paid; and that he did not superintend the loading or unloading of the barges, and, therefore, did not know what stores were upon them.)âa little while after that Coram & Co. wrote a letter to the General Commanding the Western District, Devonport, dated June 7th, 1901â(This dated that Captain Grier had informed Coram & Co. that he was no longer to employ them in conveying by barge any stores to or from the forts in Milford Haven, and that a sergeant had been placed under arrest for falsifying their carriers notes, so as to enable them to be paid for stores in excess of what they had carried, and that the assumption was that the sergeant had received a pecuniary benefit from them for so doing; that they emphatically denied having any monetary transactions with him or any other servants of the Government, and courted the fullest inquiry; that they accepted the carrier's notes, altered or unaltered, and that their accounts were made out according to the weights shown thereon; that they had no means whatever of knowing whether the notes were correct or not; that their bargemaster had repeatedly reported that he believed they (Coram's) were carrying a large quantity of stores for which they were not paid, as he was not getting carrier's notes for them; that they trusted the order would be reconsidered, and that if it was right or wrong they would agree, on a fair adjustment, to refund any overpaid amounts, where it was rightly shown that the alterations or errors were unjustly made.)âup to that time I had never heard that stores were being carried by Coram for which they were not paid, or that the weights on the carrier's notes were inaccurately shownâit wag no part of Davies' duty to write a memorandum to Coram unless it bore my signatureâExhibit 20 is in Coram's writingâ(Read) "Bill for hire of steamer. Â£114 passed for payment yesterday. You will have to render another one for two days on this month, 1st and 2nd. Bill for Â£104 odd transport passed for payment this day. C. E. DAVIES, Corporal A.S.C."âin the corner is written "Corrected account received August 18th, 00, J. A. C."âthose are Coram's initialsâI remember an account for Â£104 odd being passed from our department to the War Office about July, 1900âit was subsequently reduced to Â£95 2s. 11d.âthat is one of the accounts which are being inquired into in this caseâwhen the bill for Â£96 3s. 4d. came back I went through it with DaviesâExhibit 4 is the one; it is for Â£96 3s. 4d., rendered by Coram & Co., and is made up of 91 carrier's notesâExhibit 3 is one of the vouchers of the bill for Â£96 3s. 4d.âon it there is a summary of the other vouchers in the accountâthe red ink figures are in Davies' writingâExhibit 5 refers to the carriage of 80 boxes of ammunitionâthe green forms are kept for explosives, and the white ones for ordinary storesâthe measurement here is 14 tons 20ft.âI notice that the 1 in the 14 has been inserted, making the 4 tons 20ft. into 14 tons 20ft.âthe 1 is in a different colored inkâthe weight of ammunition is well knownâit is carried by dead weight, but it is customary to put in the measurement in the Army

Ordnance Department; I do not know what forâI see the 14 tons 20ft. is carried to the summary of Exhibit 3, and included in the totalâExhibit 6 refers to a quantity of cartridgesâthe amount of weight has been altered from 5 tons 10ft. to 15 tons 10ft., and the increased amount carried to the summary on the other sheetâon Exhibit 7 I find an entry relating to 360 Lyddite shells, weighing 26 tons 8cwt. 2qr. 18lb.âI see the 2 has been inserted before the 6, making the 2 into 26âExhibit 9 is also a carrier's note for 360 Lyddite shellsâthere is a summary on that, and it is in Davies' writing, and the weight is entered as 26 tons 8cwt. 2qr. 181b.âthe 6 has been inserted thereâExhibit 10 is a carrier's note for explosives; the summary on it is in Davies' writingâthe note itself refers to a quantity of skeleton casesâthe measurement is 18 tons Oft. 6in.âthe 1 in the 18 appears to be inserted so as to make 8 into 18âon the same exhibit there is a voucher, No. 3aâthe measurement against it is now 19 tons 18ft.âExhibit 11 is the voucher 3a of that summaryâit is for a quantity of cases of cartridges, the measurement being 19 tons 1ft. 8in.; the 1 has been inserted before the 9, making 9 into 19âExhibit 12 is a carrier's note for 360 loose Lyddite shells, the weight against them being 26 tons 18 cwt. 2qr. 181b.; the 2 in the 26 has been altered, making the 6 into 26âExhibit 13 is a carrier's note for 710 skeleton cases; the measurement is 29 tons 31ft. 7in.âI notice that the 2 in 29 has been altered into 3, making 39âthe summary on the note is in Davies' writingâopposite the words, "Voucher No. 1," I find the same figuresâI say the same about themâthe 2 has been altered into a 3, and that increased amount has been added to the total weight on the summaryâthe first item of Exhibit 14 refers to "Stores," the measurement of which is now 48 tons 20ft.âExhibit 15 is Voucher No. 1, and refers to a lot of loose targets, Portsmouth Pilot, without super-structure, 48 tons 20ft.âthe figure 4 has been altered from 1 to 4, making 18 into 48, and that increased amount has been carried into the summary in Exhibit 14âin Exhibit 4, which is the account itself, the increased figures have been chargedâI find that the total number of tons added is 110, which at 5s. a ton is Â£27 10s.âthat account has not been paid; it has been renderedâExhibit 2 is a carrier's note, No. 819, for 58 sets of tent bottoms, and in the bill for Â£180 7s. 7d. opposite No. 819 I find 87 tons are charged forâin Exhibit 2 I find there is an alteration from 57 tons to 87 tons, the extra being charged for in the accountâI know of no return for the measurement of the Artillery towing target, mentioned in Exhibit 1âthere were matters of Land Transport as well as Water Transport in our officeâthe Land Transport forms are on buff coloured paper, and are headed "Requisition for Transport (other than Sea Freight or Passages)"âExhibits 40 and 41 are on Land Transport forms, and are carrier's notes, which are directions to the bargemen as to where the goods are to be takenâit says on the form, "Barge required to be at Hobbs' Point," at such and such a time, "to remove the above from thence to Haven Forts"âthe bargemen would not know where to go as regards the forts; there are about five of themâmy signature is on these documents, as the officer requiring the transportâDavies brought them to me, and when I saw the buff coloured forms I noticed that it was unusual to use them, and asked why he

had done so, as they were not for sea freightâhe said the stores shown on them were stores for which transport was required, but for which he had received no carrier's notesâhe said there was a precedent for the buff forms' useâI also signed them twice more, once as officer in charge of transport and once acknowledging the performance of the above dutyâDavies assured me it had been carried outâat that time he was thoroughly trusted by me, and I took his word for it, without making any inquiryâI say the same about Exhibits 52, 53, and 54, which are similar buff coloured forms, except that on 52 and 53 I have not signed as to the service being performedâthey purport to be signed by J. Lawâin October, 1900, it was my duty to prepare Forts Popton, Hubbertson, and South Hook, for the Carmarthen Artillery Militia; they were going there for practiceâit was my duty to see that sufficient bedding was at those forts, and on October 3rd I made a demand on the Ordnance Department for a sufficiency of bedding; it was required very urgentlyâI found that Coram's barges were not available on that day, and I arranged with them for the hire of a steamer for that dayâI cannot say who I arranged it with now; their charge was Â£5 per day, which was then the usual charge, owing to the rise in the price of coalâDavies knew I was engaged in the transport of beddingâExhibit 60 is the form made out in his writing for the steamer to be at Hobbs' Point at 2 p.m. on October 3rdâthe stores were loaded partly on the steamer and partly on board the department pinnaceâthe steamer towed the pinnace to the fortsâin the ordinary course a bill for Â£5 was sent in by Com, and Exhibit 59 is the warrant for paymentâthe bill for the Â£5 is in Davies' writingâExhibit 61 is Coram's bill for Â£127 17s. 11d. up to October, 1900âin that bill I find the particulars of a carrier's note on buff coloured paper; Exhibit 62 relating to 47 tons 10ft of bedding, beds, etc., to be removed from Hobbs' Point to Forts Hubberston, etc., for use of the Carmarthen Artilleryâthat is in Davies' writing, and is charged for in the billâExhibit 63 is another buff-coloured carrier's note for 40 tons 18ft. for carriage of bedding to Fort Poptonâthat is in Davies' writingâthat is the bedding which went down to the forts in the steamer on October 3rdâthat bill has been paid and the service charged for the second timeâExhibits 64, 65, 66 and 67 are carrier's notes, and are summarised on Exhibit 64; they relate to beds, blankets, and bolsters from Pembroke Dock to Popton, Hubberston, and South Hookâonly one set of beds and bedding went down to those forts for the Carmarthen Artillery in October, and that was the set which went down in the steamer and the pinnaceâthe total charged is Â£127 17s. 11d. and paid forâin Exhibit 65 the weight of the beds and bedding is 22 tons 16ft 2in.âthe 1 in the 22 has been altered, converting 12 into 22âon Exhibit 67 I find an item of 19 tons 9ft. 7in.; the 1 has been put in front of the 9 making 9 into 19, so that in the third time of charging there is an addition addedâin calculating the overcharge in the bill of Â£127 17s. 11d. I find it is Â£86.

Cross-examined byMR. AVORY. I cannot remember that I noticed any alteration in the vouchers before a query was madeâI should have made a comment if I had noticed it, and if the alterations had been nitialled by either the consignor or the consigneeâDavies said that in ome cases the notes had been altered so as to include goods for which

there had been no carrier's notes, and he said that he had on some occasions found stores on the wharf for which he had no carrier's notes, and that he had accordingly measured them and included the weight in the carrier's note that he hadâCoram and James did not say anything about Davies having altered the vouchers for which there were no carrier's notesâthere was great pressure of work last year in moving goods about, and also the early part of this year, but not so muchâI have not been to Coram's office more than a dozen times altogetherâI believe Coram's son takes part in the business; I do not know what partâI did not have any conversation with him on business subjectsâI cannot say which room be was inâI understand that the target which I spoke to James about had been carriedâI knew it would be impossible to carry it on a barge, and I must have said so to JamesâI believe Â£41 would have been a proper charge if it had been carried, but I have not weighed itâthere was no special contract for towing goods by CoramâI did not consider James' explanation reasonableâI did not say to James, "Why, the target was never carried at all; it must have been towed"âI had no time; I had the ferry boat waiting for meâI say now that Coram never did any service of carriage or towing this targetâI do not remember James calling the captain of Coram's steamer to us when I was talking to himâI do not remember James saying, "Here is the captain of the steamer; he can tell you all about it"âI know the captain well; his name is George MackenâI know all Coram's menâMacken did not say in James' presence that he remembered the target quite well, and towed it back to Hobbs' Point after it was damagedâI do not know if anybody ever hit the target; that is not part of my workâit is a long way from my office when it is being fired at.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. The work Davies was doing last year was, I believe, formerly done by Staff-sergeant Ashleyâhe would be a much older and more experienced man than DaviesâI went there in October, 1899âI cannot say how long Davies had been there thenâhe was a lance-corporal when I went thereâI do not know if he was receiving 3s. 6d. a dayâI never heard of any general order that targets should only be towed by Government tugsâDavies always insisted that, according to his own recollection, this target was towed by Coramâwe should not send a barge for a small amount if a carrier's note came from the Ordnance Departmentâthey would accumulate till we got a large load, which would be about 30 tons; in the meanwhile the carrier's notes would remain in the A.S.C. officeâwhen we had got a load the carrier's notes would not be pinned together, and a sub-voucher would not be pinned to themâI cannot say that has never been done, but it is not done as a general ruleâwe had a lot of trouble with the documentsâI know goods were sent off without carrier's notes; I cannot say very oftenâthe 58 sets of tent bottoms would weigh 57 tonsâI cannot say if they were sent away without any issue note or carrier's noteâI am not prepared to deny itâDavies never took the carrier's notes across to Coram, to my knowledgeâhe might, perhaps, have done so; if so, it would be in cases marked urgentâit may have happened that the carrier's notes were not sent to Coram, but were handed to the age man by the Ordnance Wharf f remanâit was not a common practiceâthe poinâting of the carrier's notes was done by the

clerkâI do not know if there would be an issue note for goods brought back to the wharf from the forts; it does not concern meâcarrier's notes would come to my office from the officer commanding the force consigning the goodsâthey ought to come before the goodsâI cannot say that they generally came after, if at allâif a carrier's note was made out after goods had been sent away the note would be sent to the consignee for signature, and would be sent back to me and then sent on to the carrierâin some cases no measurement would be put in them, in which case it would be Davies duty to measure the goodsâit was my duty to check the bills, but an officer there had not the time to do it; it would be absolutely impossible for me to do so; I have hundreds of vouchersâI do not think I can swear with certainty that I never noticed any of these alterations before they were brought to my noticeâgoods were not allowed to accumulate to 10 or 20 tons when there were mistakes and then put on to a carrier's note; that was not done, to my knowledgeâthere would be no difficulty in Davies getting the buff forms; they were in the officeâhe said they had been used beforeâI was in command there, but I did not know much about itâI had come in from the retired listâI do not remember that there was a large amount of other goods besides bedding sent in October to the fortsâI was responsible for sending the beddingâI do not know that a lot of it was taken to the wrong forts, or that some of it was brought back to the wharf without being unpackedâI am not aware that it was Davies' duty to pay the crew of the Drakeâthe money would pass through his hands sometimes if it was not convenient for the master to cash the cheque; it was about Â£12 a week, and the money for the detachment of the A.S.C. would pass through his handsâI do not know if that would be Â£12 a month.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. I understood that Davies' explanation for altering the figures in the notes was that it was to cover the transport of stores for which there had been no carrier's notes, and also to cover the cases where the correct charges had not been shownâI was at the office every dayâmost of the goods ordered were described as urgentâif the goods were urgent, the bargemen would take them without a carrier's noteâthe bedding for the Carmarthen Militia was sent back some weeks laterâI knew that Coram had the business of a coal merchant and a railway carrying business, and that he held several public positionsâJames and Coram said that they considered they had been carrying stores for the Government for which there were no carrier's notesâI saw Coram again I think in May, and told him there had been several queries about the alterations in his accountâI did not suggest to him that he should write a letter to the Governmentâhe did not submit a letter to me of which I struck some part out; he wanted to show me a letter, but I would not look at itâI remember suggesting to him that he should write a letter; I did not see the necessity of my seeing it.

Re-examined. Davies never told me he had altered the carrier's notes before this inquiry; if he did so, he ought to have brought it to my notice, and it would have been my duty to have initialled it, or seen that it was initialledâaltering the notes would make a difference in the tissue copies in the Ordnance Departmentâbefore May, Coram or anybody on

his behalf, never made any complaint that they were carrying goods more than for what they had been paid, or that they were carrying goods with out carrier's notes, nor did they ever ask me for carrier's notes for anything they had carried previouslyâif goods were carried without carrier's notes, it was usual to supply carrier's notes for covering, so that there would be no necessity for altering the existing carrier's notes at all.

THOMAS AVORY CUMMINGS . I am a foreman in the Army Ordnance Department at Hobbs' Point, Pembroke Dockâwhen one of the forts in Milford Haven' required stores, a requisition was sent in to the Army Ordnance Department, an issue note being sent, containing the weight and capacity of the goods, which are weighed and measured by one of the men under my directionsâwe took a press copy of the issue notes, which we retainâthe carrier's note is made out in the Ordnance Office, and a press copy taken of it there, and in respect to weight and measurement it should be a duplicate of the issue noteâif the carrier's note was altered after it leaves our office it would, of course, cease to correspond with the press copyâthe duty of providing the transport is the duty of the Army Service Corps, and the carrier's note is sent there; while it is there the goods are taken down to the wharf to be ready for loading, which is then doneâthe bargeman gives the notes to the wharf foreman, who checks the goods as they are loaded; then the carrier's note is taken away by the bargeman, the foreman getting a receipt from himâwe should have no press copy relating to goods coming from Fort Popton to the dockâI produce all books containing press copy issue notes with regard to the ledger stores, as I kept themâI have compared them with the carrier's notes; they correspond, except that one has been altered in relation to the carriage of tent bottomsâon page 524 "57 tons," that has been altered in the press copy to 87 tons in indelible pencilâthe carrier's note has also been altered from 5 to 8âat the end of June last year I received a requisition as to towing a Richardson target to Fort Popton; that was lying on the wharf in sectionsâit was put together soon afterwardsâI made out the issue note entered at page 460âthe original sheets are kept at the War Officeâthey go there to vouch the accounts rendered to themâthe stock is checked by the ledger to which the issue notes are postedâI delivered neither more nor less than is on the vouchersâwe are continually stock-taking, almost every week all the year roundâI did not specify upon the note the weight or cubical contents of the target, because the target would be towed to its destination by a Government vessel, as had been done every year before, free of chargeâa short time afterwards, in consequence of what Corporal Abbott told me, I caused the target to be measuredâwe found it to be 362 tons 32ft.âI inserted it on the copies of the vouchers in the office, the press copy, and the original issue note, other copies going to the Ordnance Office, what we call our office: the office of the foreman of fort ordnanceâthere are three documents, one original and two copies, which the War Office requireâI inserted it in two, but not in our own copyâI never saw this carrier's note before the inquiryâDavies filled in "Coram & Co." upon itâthat would be filled in in the Army Service Office, and it would be his duty, or that of any other clerk.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. There would be a carrier's note whether the target was conveyed by a Government boat or by carriers, with a view to giving the necessary orders to the master of the boatâthe issue note is made oat before goods are sent out in nearly every case, unless the stores are urgently neededâthat is done by letterâ58 tent bottoms were delivered on a verbal order at their destination before the requisition arrived, and the copies made outâthey were already on the wharfâwe had orders to supply them at onceâthat is a large lotâI said before the Magistrate that the carrier's note had not been made out; that is correctâI do not deal with receiptsâthey keep a record at the forts.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. Last year there was pressure during the camping season, bub not more than any other year.

Re-examined Despatch of stores is exceptional without the documents, and then we give them at the office the weights and measures, so that they can make out the carrier's note without delayâthere is a memorandum on the issue note showing that at page 570, Book II. in my writingâthe carbon system has been done away with, and these are press copiesâthe record is that the stores were handed over on such and such a day.

JOHN ABBOTT . I am a lance-corporal in the Army Ordnance Corps, stationed at Woolwich, but previously at Hobbs' Point, in the Army Ordnance Officeâmy duty was to make out carrier's notes for goods received from Cummings, except the carrier's nameâI specified the goods to be carried, and their weights or measurements, as they appeared on the issue notesâthen I press-copied the carrier's notes, and handed them on to the Army Service CorpsâExhibit I is for a loose target, artillery, towing Recordâwhen I made that out I did not insert the measurement figuresâthere were none on the noteâthe note was sent on to the Army Service CorpsâDavies brought me the carrier's note this same morningâhe said he required the weight or measurementâI told him the weight was not required, as the War Department vessel, the Drake, was going to take the targetâhe said he required it for a returnâI then obtained the information from Cummings, and in consequence wrote upon it "163 tons 32ft.," as it is nowâI put it through the press copybook againâI wrote the words, "Measurement," "Tons," "Feet," and "Inches," before Davies filled in the name of the carrierâI was on the wharf when the target was towed up by the Drake about the first week in JulyâExhibit 2 relates to 58 sets of tent bottoms completeâI made out that carrier's note from the issue note received from CummingsâI press-copied it at page 527, Book 4âI wrote 57 tonsâthere now appears a pencil alteration making it 87 tonsâI had no knowledge of that alteration till after this inquiryâthis book was kept in the Ordnance Office, to which Davies had accessâhis pay was about 3s. 6d. a dayâhe was a rank higher than Iâmy pay was 2s. 3d.âI shared a room with him for a periodâI have seen Davies go to and from the ferry, from Hobbs' Point to NeylandâI noticed he had Â£10 or Â£12 in goldâI have noticed a man come from the ferry and inquire for Daviesâone occasion was September 25th last yearâhe inquired of me, and I sent for DaviesâDavies went to see himâthat evening in our room I noticed Davies had Â£10 or Â£12 in goldâthat was when I was sharing quarters with him.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. I first heard of this inquiry about May this yearâI did not know that Davies had the money to pay the crew of the Drake, nor the Army Service Corps DetachmentâI knew he had a bicycleâhe kept it at Neylandâthe distance to Neyland by road is more than five or six milesâI could not say whether it was 15 to 20âI lived with Davies five or six monthsâI went to Neyland onceâit costs 3d. returnâhis going there never struck me as extraordinary till after this inquiryâI saw Davies in company with a number of people, but not with a sandy manâDavies counted the money before meâthere was no disguise about itâI did not know that the Drake had to make a monthly return.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. I remember Davies speaking to a man about 35, freckled, and wearing a straw hatâhe was not at all like Coramâthe target when hit and damaged would have to be towed back and repaired, and then towed back again.

By theCOURT. I saw Davies with money two or three timesâI thought it was a considerable sumâI did not say anything to him about it, because it was not my businessâwe were very intimate.

WILLIAM CRABB . I have been the mate of the tug Drake since April, 1900âpart of my duty is to keep the official logâturning to July 4th, 1900, I see in my writing a record of towing a Record target from Hobbs' Point to Popton, where the coxswain of the Royal Artillery took possession of itâI received no carrier's note, nor any document connected with the target.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. I only remember towing the target once.

WILLIAM TWIDLE . I am coxswain of the Royal Artillery boat's crew attached to the DrakeâI held that position in July, 1900, when I took the Record target in tow at Hobbs' PointâI took a line, made it fast to the target, and then back to the vessel, and proceeded with the vessel afterwards, when it was secured on the slip afloatâLaw, of the Ordnance Department, was at the slip at the wharfâI signed this receipt for the target in the book producedâthe entry above my signature is "No. 6 Target, Richardson pattern, July 4th, 1900"âI took it down to Fort Popton; then I took a line ashore from the vessel, then the gig, and put it alongside the wharf, and turned it over to Bombardier Bedford.

ALBERT EDWARD PARSONS . I am a master gunner in the Royal Garrison Artilleryâin July last year I was in charge of Fort PoptonâI signed a requisition for an artillery towing target, Richardson pattern, for practice through the armament officerâI was at the fort when the target was broughtâI did not see it broughtâI saw it the same morningâthis is not my signature on Exhibit 1, "Consignee, A. E. Parsons, Master Gunner, Royal Artillery"âI do not remember having signed any paper in connection with the targetâin June I saw Davies at the barracks at Pembrokeâhe said this business of his being placed under arrest would have blown over had it not been for the Richardson record target, and he assured me the target had gone by Coram's bargeâI said, "You must be mistaken"âhe said, "Coram & Co."âI do not think I used the word "barge," only that Coram was instrumental in taking it down.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. Goods were brought without carrier's notes, but the notes invariably followed; I have no recollection where

the carrier's note did not come eventuallyâI said that if Coram's barge had brought the target, that would be shown by the carrier's note accompanying itâI do not remember signing a carrier's note for stores brought by the Drake.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. When the target came to the fort two companies were there for firing practiceâNo. 27 Company had been there about seven years, and No. 9 Companyâthey fired at the target two days, and then from Fort Poptonâthe target was towed about sometimes by the Drake and sometimes by a hired boatâthe target was damaged and repaired on the beach at Fort Popton, which had charge of all the targets, but they could be used at any fort for practiceâonly one Record target came to Popton at any timeâwe had Hong Kong targets to fire at in position; they came down in pieces, and were set up or towedâI know of two Richardson targetsâthe targets were taken back to Fort Popton after being repaired at Hobbs' PointâI can only speak actually of the firstâboth were damaged.

Re-examined. Only one Richardson target was taken from Hobbs' Point to Popton, which arrived at the fort about July 4thâthe second one sent was in September, for practice.

HENRY BEDFORD . I have been a bombardier in the Royal Garrison Artillery at Popton since the beginning of 1900âI remember the arrival of the Richardson record target; I went down to the Drake to receive it from the crew of the gig of the Drakeâit remained until it had been fired at, and having been knocked about, it was taken back to Hobbs' Point to be repairedâI received no paper with itâI signed no paper in connection with the reception of the target.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. I only remember receiving goods without a carrier's note on one occasionâI said at the Police-court, "On one or two occasions," and then I signed a slip of paper with the list of goods on itâthe slip was taken away by Coram's bargemen.

Re-examined. I gave a written receipt for the goods, to take the place of the carrier's note.

THOMAS FASSON . I am a sub-conductor in the Army Ordnance DepartmentâI accompany ammunition and explosivesâthe books of the department are in my keepingâbetween June and July, 1900, there was one Richardson Record target at Hobbs' PointâI produce the bill of lading of the Lord Wolsey for that targetâthat is a War Department vesselâit brought on August 19 th a target to the slip at Hobbs' Pointâbefore that it was at Devonportâthe one on the wharf that went away in July we got back from Popton at the end of the season, the latter end of September, after the other target had arrivedâthe practice continued till the end of Augustâtaking the account for Â£96 3s. 4d., and looking at Exhibit 4, the press copybook of the carrier's notes, Book 14, page 100, I find a press copy of Exhibit 5âin the book the measurement is 4 tons 20ft.âon the note it is altered to 14 tons 20ft.âin the same book, at page 65, I find in the press copy of Exhibit 8 the weight given is 16 tons 8cwt. 2qr. 18lb., in the noteit isaltered to 26 tons 8cwt. 2qr. 18lb.âat page 171 the press copy of Exhibits gives 16 tons 8cwt. 2qr. 18lb., in the note it is 26 tons 8c wt. 2qr. 18lb.âat page 185 I find the press copy of Exhibit 10 gives the measurement of skeleton cases as 8 tons 6in., the note is altered to

weight 18 tons 6in.âat page 187, Exhibit 11, the alteration is from the measurement of 9 tons 1ft. 8in. to 19 tons 1ft. 8in.âI signed that note as the issuerâI had no knowledge of that alterationâthe weight of 140 cartridges of that kind would be about 9 tonsâthey run in uniform sizesâat page 190, Exhibit 12, the weight in the book, 16 tons 8cwt. 2qr. 18lb., is altered to 26 tons 18cwt. 2qr. 18lb.âat page 214, Exhibit 13, the measurement, 29 tons 31ft. Tin., is altered to 39 tons 31 ft. 7in.âat page 278, Exhibit 15, the measurement, 18 tons 20ft., is altered to 48 tons 20ft.âthe alterations represent Â£27 10s., that is 110 tons at 5s. a tonâthe next account, Exhibit 24, is Messrs. Coram's bill for transport for Â£98 17s. 7d.âlooking to Book 4, which includes the press copy of carrier's notes of that bill, I find at page 367, Exhibit 25, the weight is 1 ton 1cwt. 1qr. 24lb. in the book, and the measurement brought out is 6 tons in the noteâit is a new entryâat page 368 of the same book, Exhibit 26, 23 tons 14cwt. 1qr. in the book is added 3 tons measurementâthe initials "A. T. C." are where Cummings has put the correct weightâat page 370, Exhibit 27, the measurement in the book of 1 ton 31st. 6in. is altered to 4 tons 31ft. 6in.âthere is nothing unusual in a number of carriers' notes on the same dayâthe stores go to different fortsâat page 476, Exhibit 29, to the entry of 8 tons 16cwt. 1qr. 4lb. is added 15 tons of measurement, and those 15 tons have been charged in the billâit was Cummings' duty to put both weight and measurement on the voucherâin Exhibit 30 a number of carrier's notes are included in the same billâone item is 136 pieces of tent bottomsâin the same book I find at page 496 the correct weight is set out of 3 tons 1 cwt. 1qr. 6lb., but there is a measurement added of 50 tons 36ft.â2 or 3 has been converted into 5, and in the addition of the column 5 has been altered to 7, or 58 to 78âtaking the correct measurement and the proper method of charging, the excess is Â£9 3s. 4d. on the bill of Â£98 17s. 7d.âExhibit 31 is a bill for Â£95 3s. 11d. to July 31stâthat wag originally for Â£104 10s. 3d.âthis exhibit is of the same character, and includes a large number of vouchersâin Exhibit 32, at page 245, the measurement is altered from 12 tons 12ft. to 22 tons 12ft.âExhibit 33 is another carrier's note in the same bill at page 287âthat is altered from a measurement of 7 tons 12ft. 2in. to 13 tons 12ft. 2in.âagainst the alteration from 7 to 13 are the initials "J. A."âthe vouchers, show addition of 2 tons, 1 ton, 2 tons and 1 ton in the items 1, 3, 4 and 8âthe "legs" are for the soldier's forms or benchesâ1 ton has been added to 1 ton 5 ft.âat page 295, Exhibit 34, the weight 3 tons 7 cwt. 3qr. of skeleton ammunition is altered to 12 tons measurement

T. CUMMINGS (Re-examined). The 90 cases of skeleton cartridges "950 p." would be about 6 1/2 tonsâ12 tons is excessive.

T. FASSON (Continued). At page 336, Exhibit 35, the book measurement is 29 tons 20ft. 9in., in the note it is 59 tons 20ft. 9in.â16 tons 20qr. is altered to 46 tons 20qr. in the book to make the 59 totalâit is dated July 18th; the stamp is July 19thâI signed that noteâI had no knowledge of the alterationâExhibit 36 is another voucher, No. 1190, of the same billâto the measurement of 20ft. is added 1 tonâExhibit 37, Voucher 947, the measurement 25 tons 8ft. is altered on the note to 35 tons 8ft.âExhibit 38, Voucher 1064, to the same account, is for 72 cases of skeleton cylinder cartridgesâthe measurement of 4 tons in the

exhibit appears as 14 tons 36ft. in the noteâit does not figure in the book because we did not make the issue note; we received it in the storeâthe correct measurement of 72 cases of skeleton cartridges is about 4 tons 36 ft.âin the same carrier's note there is an entry of Gig W, 22 tons measurementâthe gig boat lettered W was between 6 and 10 tonsâExhibit 39 is another voucherâit refers to 21 circular tents and polesâthat is not in the bookâ3 tons 23ft. is about correctâpencilled on the exhibit is 5 tons 5ft. measurementâ3 has been altered into 5 in the tons columnâExhibits 40 to 41 refer to the bill for Â£95 3s. 1ld.âon Exhibit 40, which is on the buff-coloured form, I find 17 tons 7cwt. of ammunition entered, and 10 tons 12ft. 9in of light goods, without specification of what the goods areâin No. 1238, bill 31 is charged 17 tons 7cwt. heavy, and 10 tons 12ft. lightâthat is a note for "Cartage from Hobbs' Point to Haven Forts, and return with stores"âI have been through the stores receipts, ledgers, and books of the Ordnance DepartmentâI have not been able to find any trace of goods specified in Exhibit 40 as having been issued out of the store or carriedâI find three carriers' notes at pages 379, 380, and 442âthe weight would be about 10 tonsâin Bill 31 I find no entry relating to themâExhibit 41 is a similar form of land transport, showing 38 tons 14ft. light goods and 17 tons 6cwt. 1qr. heavy, transported on July 17th from Hobbs' Point to Haven Fortsâno goods are specifiedâin Bill 31 I find 38 tons 14ft. of light charged for, and 17 tons 6cwt. 1qr. heavyâthe measurement is shown correctly but the weight is generally aboveâI have searched and been unable to trace the light goodsâthere are a number of press copies of carriers' notes at pages 346, 349, 366, 368, 369, 373, 376, 380, 382, each for small quantities of storesâthe total measurement given is 7 tons 28ft. 7in.âin Bill 31 no one of those is includedâthose are copied for dates about July 27th, for the period covered by the bill for Â£95 3s. 11d., to July 31st, and are not included in the billâlooking at Exhibit 45, that is a similar bill for Â£179 18s. 5d. to September 7th, 1900, and with a number of vouchers, Exhibits 40 to 51, which are all carrier's notes on buff-coloured forms for land transport, and are included in the billâthe body of the notes is Davies' writingâthere is bo specification of the kind of goodsâI can find no trace of them in the booksâExhibits 47, 49, and 50 refer to tentsâthose notes represent a total, at 10 tents to the ton, of 1,420 teats, or 142 tonsâbetween August 16th and September 4th; 1900, the period covered by the three notes, the ledgers are kept by the ledger clerk, and the items have been checked with the vouchersâthere were nothing like 1,420 tents at Pembrokeâthe largest number about that time was about 150âwe were very short; we had nearly every tent outâExhibit 52 and Exhibit 53 are buff-coloured forms of a similar kind, and tht amounts are charged in the bill for Â£1,188âthey are signed "J. Law, A.O.D."âthe body is in Corporal Davfos' writingâlooking at Exhibit 54, I do not know the writing of the signature "J. Law"âit is a similar billâI can find no traces of the transactions represented by 52, 53, and 54âin the period preceding September 7th I find in Book 3 of the Press Copy Carrier's Note Book, at pages 375, 381, 419, 426, and 427, notes 4ft, 44, 47, and 51, for small amounts, totalling about 2 tons 17cwt. 3qr. 27lb.âin Bill 45, for Â£179 18s. 5d. none of those notes are includeâthe body

of the carrier's note ought to be filled up by the person who requisitioned the transportâExhibit 61 is a bill of the same kind for Â£127 17s. 11d. to October 15th; it is Davies' writingâExhibit 62 is included in itâ62 to 67 are sub-vouchers; they are all joined to one voucherâin 64 I find the three cases carried out at 57 tons 7in.; that is the total of the three notes 65, 66, and 67âExhibit 69 is a buff-coloured form for stores from the Hobb's Point slipâno stores are specified, but there are 33 tons 10ft. heavy, and 64 tons 18ft. lightâI do not know where they were to be droppedâit, is charged in the bill; it is signed "J. Law"âthe body is in Corporal Davies' writingâExhibit 70 is similar, and has similar directions to the bargemen to collect storesâthat is charged in the billâExhibit 71, a bill for Â£218 0s. 3d., to December 31st, 1900, is of the same characterâExhibit 72 is a carrier's note from Popton to Hobbs' Point of 240 tons 9ft. 6in.âthe measurement of each article is not given; it is lumped togetherâCummings makes it 111 tons 17cwt. 11in.âExhibit 73 is a carrier's note for goods from Hubbertston to Hobbs' Point for similar goods, without the measurement of each article being specified, of 112 tons 18ft. 9in.âthe correct measurement of similar goods is 74 tons 20ft. 3in.âeach of those carrier's notes has been charged for in the bill at larger amountsâExhibit 74 is the carrier's note for eight cases of ammunition, "B. O."; the correct weight is shown, 9 tons 15cwt. 6lb.; the correct measurement of that is 7 tons 35ft. 8in.âon the carrier's note is 18 tons 12ft. 1in.âin the bill Â£218 0s. 3d. is the increased measurement charged forâExhibit 75 is a carrier's note from South Hook to Pembroke of a quantity of stores, without the special measurement of each article being stated, the total being lumped together as 220 tons 17ft. 5in.; that is the amount charged in the billâthe correct measurement of similar quantities of goods is 108 tons 25ft. 4in.âExhibit 76 is another note in which the total measurement is lumped together as 180 tons 19ft. 3in., and that is charged in the bill; the correct measurement is 71 tons 14ft. 11in.âthe overcharge is Â£94 4s. 8d.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. The buff forms were signed by Captain Grier, as the officer of requisitionâI would not accept Davies' writingâCummings worked out seven overcharges; I can state that they are correctâit might save time to lump small amounts, but that is not allowedâI do not find one issue note agree with the buff formsâif stores are taken to forts, and others returned, I would expect to find them in the ledgersâI would not expect to find carrier's notes of goods coming into wharf, but they would be in the vouchers from the persons who sent the goods to us, and we can trace the dates in our booksâon one or two occasions I measured for myselfâI was not present when Cummings worked out the figures, but he worked them out by the same tonnageâI measured the gig or cutter, but I did not come to the tonnage given in the noteâI measured the goods packed on a barge with a guard, and tarpaulin put overâthey were packed when turned out on to the fortâthey would come back packed more loosely, and take more spaceâthe correct measurement in Exhibit 39, which is in the note 21 tons, is 3 tons 23ft. 6in., but I am inclined to think Cummings has made a mistake, inasmuch as I think 6 tons came back for exchange, being storm damaged; therefore, they would not come back in bags or anythingâan ordinary tent has a pin bag and a

number of pinsâif the tents were damaged, and sent to be repaired, they would not send back the pins; we simply change the tentâthey go about six to the ton.

T. CUMMINGS (Re-examined). I have made a correct calculation of the measurements in Exhibit 39.

JOHN ABBOTT (Re-examined byMR. LEYCESTER). I find on Bill 33, a total, which was 7 tons 12ft. 2in., is 13 tons 12ft.âthe initials "J. A." against the 13 are my writingâI do not know anything of the initials "J. B." being put against that.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. The vouchers are checked on the hill by Captain Grier, who signs itâthe collector at Devonport checks him; I believe Colonel Knocker, the paymaster, checks him, as at folio 100âif Captain Grier received a document like Exhibit 40, it would put him upon inquiryâthe document was passed, and the bill was paidâthe document is countersigned, to show that Captain Grier has pained it as correctâit is approved by the staff officer of the transportâwe were rather busy last year.

CHARLES WAREHAM HOPKINS . I am a civilian clerk in the Army Service Corps at Hobbs' PointâI went there on February 24th, 1900âcarrier's notes came into Davies' hands or mine, whichever was thereâif it came to mine I would show it to Davies and enter it in Book 226âI have examined the carrier's notesâI find a number of cases where the entries appearing in Book 226 have been alteredâfor instance, 4 tons 36ft. has been altered to 14 tons 36ft.âI kept the bookâDavies made entries in my absenceâI find the initials "C. E. D." put against many of the alterationsâI had no knowledge of those initials before this inquiryâexamples are in Book 13 of Book 226, Exhibit 12 of February 19th, 1901, relating to 360 loose shells, where 57 is made into 87, 15 into 35, and 25 into 35âI produce five bills in which there are overcharges, in that for Â£98 17s. 7d. of Â£9 3s. 4d.; in that for Â£96 3s. 4d. of Â£32 17s. 6d.; in that for Â£179 18s. 5d. of Â£130 13s. 1d.; in that for Â£127 17s. 6d. of Â£27 10s.; and in that for Â£218 0s. 3d. of Â£99 6s. 9d.âreferring to a book in the Army Service Department, I am able to say that, with one or two exceptions, the whole of the original carrier's notes on the pages given by Fasson were received in my department.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. I summarised sub-vouchers into one voucherâthe alterations made are obvious to anyone looking at themâthe figures are not scratched outâI am not aware of last year's pressure causing trouble in getting the carrier's notes to the Ordnance WharfâI know of no instanceâmy duty was to enter them in the book after signature, put them in an envelope and send them to Coram & Co.

JAMES LAW . I have been civilian foreman at the wharf at Hobbs' Point since August, 1899âpart of my duty was to see to the loading of vessels and barges, and to check the stores by the carrier's notesâI kept two booksâone was a receipt book, which was signed by the person taking goods away, and one was the Rough Book for entering large consignmentsâboth books are signed by the bargemen who take goods awayâgoods received from the bargemen are sent to the storesâthe shipping note accompanying them is sent to the Ordnance OfficeâI remember the Richardson Record target being on the wharf in April of last yearâunder my

orders it was put together on the slipâit was taken away by the DrakeâI first saw a carrier's note with regard to that target when this inquiry had begunâI have seen Corporal Davies about the wharf from time to timeâhe was with Coram's bargeman occasionallyâafter the inquiry, about May this year, Davies came to measure the goods after they had been put in the bargesâthat happened 20 to 50 timesâDavies had never done that before the inquiry, to my knowledgeâDavies told me there was a row about the last bill sent in by Coram & Co. for Â£96 3s. 4d.âhe told me he thought I would have squared it up in the best way I could, so as to get him out of the rowâhe said if I did not help him to get out of the row I might drop into it myselfâon one occasion afterwards he asked me whether I had been to see CoramâI told him "No"âhe said I ought to go over and see him; it would be all rightâI said I did not do business that wayâhe said if I would help him to square it up he would give me Â£5âthat was to be by showing more stores had gone than really had goneâI said No, because my receipt book would not allow me to do thatâhe said we would have to square it up the best way we couldâit is not the fact that a considerable quantity of stores have been carried from Hobbs' Point to other forts without carrier's notesâI have seen Davies on several occasions crossing by the ferry to Neyland, where Messrs. Coram's premises areâit is about eight minutes' sail, and costs 3d. returnâhe would go away during working hoursâthe signatures "J. Law" upon the Exhibits 52, 53, 69, and 70 are not my writingâI know nothing about themâ(52 and 53 were in pencil, and 69 and 70 in ink.)âI have never seen these buff forms used by Coram's bargemen for water transport.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. There is no telephone from Hobbs' Point to Neylandâthere is a telegraph office in both townsâthe ferry runs backward and forward throughout the dayâDavies did not tell me he was investigating the books to see how the difficulties had arisenâhe did not ask me to help him to investigate the booksâI cannot investigate books by calling 27th the 7th of last JuneâI kept the dates of receipts in one bookâwe began a new system of books in July last yearâI said on the first occasion before the Magistrate that I had seen Davies measuring goods before the inquiry began, and that he never told me what he was doingâI had a conversation with Cummings on leaving the CourtâI now say I had never seen the measuring going on before 1901.

JAMES GRAY . I am one of the principal clerks in the War Officeâpart of my duty is to make out warrants for the Payment of contractors' billsâI made out the order for the payment of Coram's bill for Â£180 7s. 7d.âit was forwarded from Londonâthe bill has been paid.

CHARLES JAMES MAXWELL . I am assistant principal clerk in the War OfficeâI sign in the absence of the principalâI signed the Orders 42 for Â£95 3s. 11d. and 55 for Â£179 18s. 5d.

REGINALD FREETH . I am a principal clerk in the War OfficeâI signed the Warrants 68 for Â£127 17s. 11d. and 77 for Â£218 0s. 3d.

G. R GRIER (Re-examined). The bedding provided for Forts Hubbertston and Hook is still on chargeâit has not come backâthe bedding delivered at Popton came back on October 15th, 12 days after delivery.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. I got my information from the ledgersâI did not keep the books.

WILLIAM HENRY MARTIN . I am employed at the headquarters at DevonportâI produce a letter dated June 7th, gent by Coram & Co., to the General commanding the Western District, and the reply of the 10th. (Exhibit 22, stating that the matter had been submitted for consideration.)

HENRY MICHAEL RICK . I am manager of the London & Provincial Bank at Pembroke DockâJames had a deposit accountâDavies had an accountâCoram & Co. had a business accountâI produce certified copy of Davies' account, Exhibit 81, extracted from the ledger, and vouched by me as accurateâit was opened by the payment in of Â£40 10s. in cash on March 25thâagainst that were drawn cheques which left a balance of 11 guineas, which was drawn out by chequesâby about June 6th the whole amount was drawn outâa cheque book was omitted to be debited and put right at the endâI also produce a similar certificate of the business account of Coram & Co. from January 1st, 1899, to September, 1901 (Exhibit 2)âto this account were paid and credited from time to time War Office ordersâon October 2nd, 1899, a War Office order was credited for Â£204 17s., and a cheque drawn and debited to Coram & Co. for Â£15 on April 14th; on April 18th another was credited in red ink, and another on June 23rd for Â£146 5s.; on June 21st a cheque was debited of Â£20; on August 30th, 1900, another War Office cheque was credited for Â£95 3s. 11d., and on October 5th one for Â£179 18s. 5d.: on October 6th Â£50 was debited; on December 13th a War Office cheque for Â£177 17s. 11d. was credited, and a cheque for Â£20 to selves was debited; on February 1st, 1901, a War Office cheque for Â£218 0s. 3d. was credited; on February 5th a cheque to selves for Â£17 10s. was debited; on June 8th a War Office cheque for Â£167 5s. 4d. was credited; and on June 20th a cheque to selves for Â£10 was debitedâthe cheques to self were cashed in notes for the larger amounts, and in gold for amounts of Â£10 to Â£15âI know the prisoners' writing, and recognise their writing in the exhibits, including the bills and the receipts, and the signature "Thomas Coram"âI have been in Messrs. Coram's office.

Cross-examined byMR. AVORY. James' deposit account consists of two entries, a payment in of Â£240 in March, 1899, which I have heard was the proceeds of his sale of a house through a building society, and he drew out Â£40 in January this yearâit was at interestâhe had no current accountâI knew him personallyâI understood he was Coram's servantâJames had no power to draw on the business account, nor sign "Coram & Co.," nor endorse cheques.

Cross-examined byMR. GILL. The certified copy of the account is a reproduction of the pass bookâit would contain more informationâthe War Office cheques are not specified in the pass bookâCoram & Co. were coal merchants and carriersâtheir credit balanced from Â£3,000 to Â£6,000.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. The Army Service Corps had an account at our bankâthe cheques were signed by Captain Grier, and cashed by DaviesâI did not see anything about wages; they were simply made payable to dates.

G. R. GRIER (Re-examined). Davies would possess money, for the payment of the Army Service Detachment; three members of the Army Service Corps do thatâhe would cash the cheque and pay the money away the same dayâhe would not be entitled to take the money to his roomâthe men of the Drake were paid four times a month, and the fourth payment would be a little more money.

EDWARD MACDONALD . I am a clerk in the Post Office Savings Bank, London; I produce a certified extract from the books of Davies' account thereâit was opened on October 3rd, 1899, with Â£10, and sums were paid in of Â£1 10s., Â£4 4s. 6d., Â£12, and several sums of Â£20, up to February 6th, 1901âthe rest is made up of interestâÂ£29 10s. 5d. and Â£21 16s. 9d. were transferred from that account to the Local Loans account, or Government Stockâon March 23rd Â£40 was drawn out of that account; it was paid on March 25th.

WILLIAM LUTHER SILCOX . I am a bicycle deader, of Water Street, Pembrokeâon September 29th, 1901, Davies bought from me a bicycle for Â£15 4s.âhe paid Â£3 that day, and the balance, Â£12 4s., on October 6thâboth payments were in gold.

FREDERICK JOHN TALLETT . I am a jeweller, of 14, Diamond Street, Pembroke DockâDavies has been a customer since about Midsummer, 1900âExhibit 78 is a copy of the entries in my books of purchases made by Davies, specifying rings, brooches, and jewellery of various kinds, and jugs, basins, and things of that sortâthey came to Â£31 198. 6d.; the payments were made by cheques of May 11th and 31st this year.

JAMES STOCKLEY (Detective). On August 14th last I received a warrant from Bow Street for the arrest of James and Davies, and on August 20th I went to NeylandâI went to Coram's office and saw JamesâI read the warrant to himâI told him who I was, and that I was going to arrest him on a warrant for unlawfully obtaining a security worth Â£180 7s. 7d. from the War Office, and that I was going to arrest him in connection with Corporal DaviesâI told him he would be taken to London and chargedâhe said, "I do not understand what you mean by obtaining Â£180 7s. 7d."âI said, "That was the amount of the cheque paid to Messrs. Coram for their account for the quarter ending June last year, which included the charge of Â£41 for taking the floating target to Fort Popton, a service which it is suggested was never carried out"âhe said, "I know nothing about that; we make out the accounts from the carrier's notes, and if we had not received a carrier's note we could not have charged for it. I am only a paid clerk; Mr. Coram attends the office, and makes out his own accounts, and writes his own letters. I am manager, and only make out the accounts and write letters in his absence, I have no authority to sign cheques. Mr. Coram sits in the office from morning until night, and if anything has been done I have not benefited by it. The head of the firm is the person who ought to answer for it"âlater on, when Mr. Coram saw him, he said, "Mr. Coram will have to come to London and get me out of this"âhe produced the press copybook, and said, "You can see who does the business"âhe showed me letters in it in his own writing and in Coram's writingâthat same day I went to the barracks at Pembroke Dock, where Davies was in

military custodyâI read the warrant to him, and told him he would be arrestedâhe said, "It is a pity the people who started this business are not in it"âwhile I was at the barracks Coram cameâI did not see him in Davies' presenceâin consequence of something that was told me, I asked him if he wanted to see meâhe said, "No, your name is not James"âI went away thenânext day I brought Davies and James to London in custodyâCoram was not in custody at that timeâas we alighted from the train at Paddington I saw CoramâI knew he was in the same train; he had come to the carriage window and spoken to James once or twice coming upâat Paddington James asked if he might speak to CoramâI said he might, and took him up to himâJames said to him, "I suppose you will find me bail?"âCoram hesitated a moment, and said, "I will see about it, and let you know"âon August 22nd I received a warrant at Bow Street for the arrest of CoramâI saw him at Bow Street Police-court; I read the warrant to him; he was charged, and made no replyâI do not know if the three prisoners had an interview at the Police-court between the 21st and 22ndâDavies and James had not been before the Magistrate on August 22ndâin the course of my inquiries at Pembroke I received Exhibit I with a number of other vouchersâI noticed it had not been folded, and that it was perfectly clean; the others were dirty, and had the appearance of having been folded up and put into an envelopeâit came to me through the Treasury from the War Office.

Cross-examined byMR. MUIR. There was a bundle of quite 100 vouchers tied up with the billâI only saw a letter book at Coram's office; I saw no books relating to any business at the office; I did not look for themâwhen I arrested James he left a note on his desk for Coramâthe first time I saw Coram was at the barracks, about an hour after I had arrested James; he did not see James thenâI saw James writing a note telling Coram he was going to be taken away by the police, and, I think, asking Coram to come and see himâI had been at Pembroke Dock about a monthâI did not make any search for books when I arrested James; I did not think I was justified in doing so.

Re-examined. I was down at Pembroke Dock about this matter, not in the ordinary course of business.

WILLIAM GOUGH (Police Sergeant). I was with Stockley on August 20th, and on August 22nd I went to Coram's premises at Neyland Pointâthe only offices there, apart from the railway office, are Coram's officesâI searched his officeâI found Exhibit 20 there, "Bill for hire of steamer, etc."âon August 23rd I saw Coram and James on their arrival at New Milford StationâI asked Coram for the keys of the safeâin his presence and in James', I searched the safe; they were on bail thenâI found a press copybook in which all the accounts had been copiedâthat is the only book I could find in connection with this caseâI said to Coram, "Have not you any day book, cash book or ledger, as I cannot find them any where?"âhe said, "No, the only book we keep is the press copy account book; there in no need for any other books; we make our bills from the carriers' notes, and then press copy them," or words to that effectâI said, "How do you make out your accounts for this

business?"âhe said, "The bills are made out from the carrier's notes, and then copied in the press copybook."

Cross-examined byMR. MUIR. I found books relating to the general business of Coram & Co.âI found no cash book or ledgerâI found books relating to the railway part of his business, but I did not go into themâthey were principally note books, so far as I could see, containing memoranda of the business doneâthe means of transit between the dock and the railway is Coram & Co.'s ferryâI was given to understand that they owned a number of tugs and barges.

MR. AVORYsubmitted that there was no case to go to the JURY against James, as he was only a clerk, and that there was no evidence to show that any of the alleged alterations were in his writing; that even if he had known that there were alterations, that was not evidence of a crime; but there was no evidence to show that he did know of any alterations. TheSOLICITOR GENERALcontended that there was evidence that James knew of the alterations, as Captain Grier had asked him how he came to charge Â£41 for towing the Record target, and James had said that he thought the charge was a fair one, and that Coram had said that James knew about the April account.MR. JUSTICE BIGHAMruled that the case must go to theJURY.

Evidence for Coram.

DENIS JAMES DONOVAN . I was called before the MagistrateâI am captain of the Government vessel, DrakeâI carried Government stores on herâI have frequently had buff-coloured notes given me for carrying stores on the DrakeâI have had white carrier's notes, like Exhibit 7 given me for the purpose of collecting goods by the Drakeâwhen I have got to the place I was directed to by the carrier's notes I have frequently found the goods had already been removed by Coram's vessels, and the foreman would put on the carrier's notes "Gone by barge," and return them to meâI would sometimes take them back to the office, and sometimes take them on boardâthere are a lot on board still.

Cross-examined byMR. LEYCESTER. A monthly return had to be made of the work done by the Drake.

Cross-examined by theSOLICITOR-GENERAL. In some cases I got carrier's notes to take goods from Hobbs' Point, and when I got there I found they had gone by barge; somebody had handed them over to Coram.

By theJURY. The crew of the Drake got their pay by the week; when there were more than four weeks in a month they got a little more the last weekâit was supposed to be paid on the 7th, 14th, and 21st, and the last day of the month, but when I was going to Hobbs' Point I would telegraph, and ask for a cheque to be made out in Davies' name, so he could draw the money, and I would pay the menâthe account would be on the 7th, 14th, and 21st about Â£14; the last payment would be, perhaps, Â£20.

James, in his defence, on oath, said that he did not know that any alterations had been made in any of the carrier's notes; that he never made a farthing out of any of the overcharges; that he had never been a party to making any overcharge himself, that he had never given Davies any money, and that he never got anything from Coram except his pay of Â£1 10s. a week.

Davies, in his defence, on oath, said that he admitted all the alterations he had made; that when he did not get carrier's notes for goods carried he altered the notes he had already got to meet the tonnage; that he had never received a penny from Coram or James, and that the money in his bank was what he had saved from his wages.

Witnesses for Coram.

GEORGE MACKEN . I have been employed for 30 years in the same employment, first under Mr. Jackson and then under Coram, as engineer and master of one of Coram's tugsâCoram's steamers are employed in towing barges about Milford HavenâI remember towing targets for the Government; one we towed was a Hong Kong target, and one was a Richardson targetâI towed the Hong Kong target sometimes from Popton, and sometimes from South HookâI would not be certain if I towed it from Hobbs' PointâI towed it from fort to fort while they were shooting at it, and I towed it back to Hobbs' Pointâthat was in the summer time, I cannot remember the dateâI remember towing a Richardson target; we towed it to Popton, and made it fast to the buoy; we towed it with the PembrokeshireâI had a boat's crew in attendance while we were towing itâI do not know what boat's crew it was; one of the crew was named KeenâI cannot fix the date of it at allâit was in the middle of the summer in last yearâlast spring I remember seeing James talking to Captain Grier; I was coming back from my dinner; Captain Grier was in his carriageâJames said, "Here is the captain of the boat; he will tell you all about it"âCaptain Grier asked me if I had towed the targetâI said, "Yes"âa few days after that I was crossing the ferry, and Captain Grier asked me did I remember the date, I told him noâI have seen the Drake towing a Richardson target last yearâthere were two Richardson targetsâI cannot say if they towed the same one that I did.

Cross-examined. I do not keep a logâI make no record of the business I doâI believe I had the order to tow this target from our officeâI did not see a carrier's note for itâI see Parsons' name on this document (Exhibit 1), as having received the targetâI never asked him to sign it, or got any receipt from him for the targetâI told 'my employers at night what work I had done during the dayâI never got orders in writing, Only by word of mouthâI did not take the Richardson target on board; we could not carry it on our deckâI have towed a Richardson target from Hobbs' Point to Poptonâit would take an hourâI do not know if Â£41 would be a proper charge for thatâI never heard how much was charged for towing.

JAMES KEEN . I am a gunner in the Royal Artillery; I have been 13 1/2 years in the service, and I have been at Pembroke Dock since March, 1900âI attend here upon subpoenaâI was one of a boat's crew that went with the Pembrokeshire, when she towed a Richardson target from Popton to Hobbs' Pointâit had been damaged on the beach by storm, and got broke upâa boat's crew would consist of four men and a bombardierâat the latter end of August, 1900, a target was taken back again from Hobbs' Point by the Pembrokeshire, and my battery fired at it the same day; the 21st Company, Western Division, fired at itâMacken was our

skipper on the Pembrokeshireâ1 was with him several times when targets were towedâthere were two Richardson targets, to my knowledge.

Cross-examined. Coram's men towed a Richardson target from Hobbs' PointâI was not there when it startedâI saw it come in to Popton; that is all I sawâI do not remember a Richardson target being towed in July by the DrakeâI said in my statement, "About a fortnight before the 13th Company commenced practice, which would be about the middle of July, 1900; I saw a Richardson Record target being brought up the Haven by the War Department vessel, Drake"âthat is quite rightâI know of Coram's people towing a Richardson target from Hobbs' Point down the HavenâI said in my statement, "I never knew Messrs. Coram & Co.'s launch to tow a Richardson target down the Haven"âI signed that statement about October 15th.

Re-examined. Sergeant Stockley took the statement from me; he put a number of questions to me; we were alone for about an hour the first time, and then he came again, and I was with him for about 10 minutes thenâI answered his questions to the best of my belief; he took them down, and I signed them.

JAMES WILLIAMS . I live at Neyland, PembrokeshireâI have worked on barges there for the last 37 yearsâI have been employed by Coram, and by his predecessors in the same businessâI have carried Government stores on the barges; there were about 10 altogetherâduring the summer of 1900 I was very busy taking stores from Hobbs' Point to the different forts, and from one fort to anotherâI have often carried goods without carrier's notes; I carried them without notes most frequently from the forts to Hobbs' PointâI took any goods which I was told to takeâDavies would kick up a lot of row because the measurements were wrongâI was getting too few goodsâI used to complain to Law, and I spoke to all the master gunners at the Haven fortsâI have spoken to Davies about itâI have taken ammunition from one fort to anotherâI have been sent to a fort sometimes, and have been told I had come to the wrong oneâI have reported that to James and to Lawâhe would measure the barge, and send me after DaviesâI have spoken to Davies about not having carrier's notes, and he has said he would send themâwhen I spoke to Law he has altered the carrier's notes himselfâI remember a quantity of bedding going down to Popton last year for the Carmarthen Militia from Hobbs' Pointâthere was a great pressure of work then, more than I have ever seen beforeâI took a load of clean bedding down to the forts about a week before October 3rd, and I brought it back after the Militia had gone; it had not been unpacked when I brought it back, and I also brought back some which the Milford Haven had taken downâI received no carrier's notes for bringing the stuff backâduring 1900 I took many tents down the harbour to the different fortsâthe Glamorgan and Cardigan Militia were at South HookâI took the tent-boards down afterwards; they were not allowed them at firstâI brought back all the tents that I had taken down, eight and 10 one day, and 10 or 12 the nextâthere were times then that I did not have carrier's notesâI reported that to Davies, and I think he said he would send them over to the officeâwhen I took stores from one fort to another, and had no carrier's note, the master gunner who sent them would make out a carrier's note and give it to me

to get signed after I had left them; sometimes they were made out on slips of paperâI saw a pinnace unloading bedding while the Milford Haven was unloading.

Cross-examined. As a rule, I got a carrier's note when I took goods from Hobbs' Point, but very often I did notâI kept no record of what I carriedâI told James I had carried a quantity of stores without a carrier's noteâhe would not give me a slip of paper to take back to get a carrier's noteâI have gone to the department, and got a carrier's note sometimes when I had carried goods without oneâI never knew of Davies altering a carrier's note in my presenceâI never saw a carrier's note again after I had given it to James.

ByMR. AVORY. When I got a slip of paper from a master gunner I would give it to Law to get a carrier's noteâif I went to the office with a slip of paper I would give them to James.

Re-examined. I am not much of a scholar; I can read a carrier's noteâI had other work to do besides Government businessâI have brought empties back from the forts to Hobbs' Point; they would be stowed on board anyhow, sometimes with a carrier's note and sometimes withoutâI did not go to the forts every day.

RICHARD CHILDS . I have been employed by Coram & Co. for the last 28 years, and have sometimes been in charge of one of their boatsâI remember taking bedding to Popton last year; some of it was on a steamer, and some of it in a pinnaceâthat was by Davies' ordersâI had no carrier's noteâthere was too much for the pinnace, and we took what the pinnace could not takeâthere was an artillery corporal in charge of the pinnaceâthe bedding was distributed at the different forts.

Cross-examined. I do not know if the steamer that towed the pinnace was hired for the day.

Coram, in his defence, on oath, said that he never altered a voucher; that the accounts were sent in with the vouchers as they received them; that he knew they were carrying goods without carrier's notes, and in excess of the measurement, but that he did not complain, as it would have been no me; that he had no personal knowledge of the matter of the Richardson target; that he had never been alone with Davies in his life; that he had never paid him any money; that he did not see the vouchers themselves, as James called out the items to him, and he would then make out the accounts

JAMESâ NOT GUILTY . DAVIES and CORAMâ GUILTY . They received good characters.âDAVIES, Nine months in the second division. âCORAM, Eighteen months' hard labour.

766. CHARLES WILLIAM INMAN (50) PLEADED GUILTY to that he, being entrusted as an attorney with Â£100 and Â£70, with direc tions in writing to apply the same for certain purposes, did unlawfully convert the same to his own use and benefit; also to having been entrusted with a power of attorney for the sale and transfer of certificates of 100 shares in the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway Company, and with 50 shares in the Louisville and Nashville Railway Company, did unlawfully convert the same to his own use and benefit.â Nine months' hard labour.

767. ABSOLOM WILLIAM HEAD (53) , Feloniously killing and slaying Michael Guiry. He was also charged on the Coroner's Inquisition with the like offence.

MR. CAMPBELLProsecuted.

JULIA GUIRY . I live at 123, North Woolwich Road, SilvertownâI am the widow of Michael Guiryâhe died on September 14th at that address at about 6 a.m.âhe was taken ill that day fortnight, August 31stâhe was a ship's firemanâhis wages were 30s. a week when he was by the ship at home, and Â£5 a month when he was at seaâhe was at sea most of his timeâhis age was 35âhe was taken ill with severe diarrhoea, sickness, and pains in his stomachâI gave him milk, soda-water, castor oil, gruel, and some rumâhe was on the steamship Ohattanâhe was not better on September 5th, and on the Thursday I went for a doctor, Mr. Head, between 6 and 7 p.m.âI saw this board in the window: "A. W. Head, Surgeon-dentist and Accoucheur, Drug Stores: late Dr. Moir"âI believe Dr. Moir is in a lunatic asylumâI left a messageâI thought he was a doctorâhe came a few minutes after I got homeâI had never seen him beforeâhe asked me how long my husband had been ill, and what he complained of, and then he examined him with a stethoscopeâhe never complained of his lungsâI did not know he had tuberculosisâhe had been ill with dysenteryâthe prisoner tapped him about the stomach where he complained of pain; he said it was evidently a case of phthisis, and ordered poultices on the stomach and back, where he complained of painâhe ordered turps, but we had none in the house, and I asked if mustard would do, and he said, "Yes; it will do as well"âthe Seamen's Hospital is about 20 minutes' walkâI went with the prisoner to Barnwood Roadâit was an empty parlour, with no furniture in it, only just a few bottles on the sideboardâhe handed me some papers; he asked me if I could readâI said, "Yes"âhe said that those were his testimonialsâhe said that he was reduced in circumstance?, and said, "I have seen better days; I have known what it is to sleep on a silken couch; I have run through three fortunes; I have slept on the veldt, and now I have no bed to lie on"â(Read:"The Lodge, Brymbo, near Wrexham, North Wales. I have much pleasure in stating that Mr. A. W. Head acted with me as my assistant for over three years. He is well up in general practice, in surgical, medical, and midwifery, also in pit and steel works, aloo general practice. ALEXANDER CREIGHTON, M.D."â"27, East Road. This is to certify that Mr. A.W. Head was my assistant in the years 1885, 1886, 1887, and gave me entire satisfaction in all his professional duties, likewise to my patients. FRED J. MONEY, M.D.Lond."â"Turner Road, Limehouse, E. I have much pleasure in stating that Mr. A. W. Head acted as junior assistant for me, locum tenens, in 1870. CHRISTOPHER COWARD,L.R.C.P., etc." And "Mile End Old Town Infirmary, Bancroft Road. We certify that Mr. A. W. Head acted as dispenser and dentist in 1870 for three months as locum tenens. He gave entire satisfaction to the medical staff. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.")

âI read the testimonialsâhe gave me some medicine and a powder; I went back to my husbandâthe prisoner said he would call again before bed timeâthe first time he called was between six and seven; he came again at eleven; my husband was a little better tâenâhe examined him again in the same wayâI told my husband how the prisoner was placed, and he took pity on him, and when he came again, after he had examined him, we get into conversation, and my husband said, "Let him go upstairs, and sleep there for the night"âhe slept there for a fortnight; we did not like to tell him to goâthe next morning be saw my husband about sevenâhe knocked at the door and asked how the patient wasâI said he hid had a better night; he felt his pulse; he said his temperature was reduced, and that he would get betterâhe gave him some more medicineâthe prisoner said he was going out to look at a house, as the neighbourhood was very rough in the Barnwood Road, and that he had taken a house in the Clyde Road, and was going to look after it, that he would have some furniture on the hire system, and have it fitted up as a surgeryâwhen he came back he brought these medicine bottles and this board (Produced), and a tea kettleâhe asked if I would put the board up in my window; I said "Yes," and I did soâI think the prisoner saw my husband three times that day; each time he came in and out he always went in and saw himâin the evening he told me my husband was very illâhe said that his temperature was very high when he first came, but he said it was much reduced in the morningâhe said he would pull him through, that he would get over that, but that he could not possibly live longer than November, as the right lung was entirely gone and the left was affected, but he would be out in the kitchen in a few daysâhe continued to attend my husbandâhe got worseâin a few days I telephoned for Dr. MacdonoghâDr. Mitchell cameâI did not go to Dr. Macdonogh firstâI met Mr. McGirty, who said he knew a man in the neighbourhood; I should give him a chance; he was with Dr. Moir, and he was the nearestâwhen I was going to the telephone for Dr. Macdonogh the prisoner asked me how my husband wasâI said that he was no better, and that I was going to send for another doctorâhe said, "Very good, I will, make notes, and I will meet Dr. Macdonogh"âhe made these notes on notepaper of what he had been treating my husband forâ(Read: "The case of Michael Guery. Age 36. I was called by Mrs. G. about 9 o'clock in the evening, Thursday, September 12th, to see him. I prescribed.") (Then followed a prescription: "Apply pure mustard poultices to lower part. Pulse about 90. Temperature 100. Heart feeble, left lung blocked, and right lung not so bad. My idea or opinion was that it was a true case of phthisis, and the patient so emaciated. He had been in the Seamen's Hospital for dysentery, and he drank heavy. Two days after he was dressed and got up in the next room. Mrs. Guery called in Dr. Mitchell, whom I met, and showed him the prescription. He said, 'Go on with it.' I had to go to see about my eyes. Mrs. Guery called in Dr. Hill twice on Thursday, as I was in London. I assented. I saw the man die about 6 o'clock on Friday morning. They had let my bedroom, so I left on Friday, 7 o'clock in the morning. I laid out 3/6 V.N.; 10/6â14/-")âmy husband had been in the Seamen's Hospital 18 months previouslyâhe drank, but was not a heavy drinkerâhe put his clothes on and came out in the

kitchenâthe notes are an accurate description of what he didâDr. Mitchell and I went into my husband's roomâhe examined my husbandâthe prisoner told Dr. Mitchell he was an M.R.C.S., of the Charing Cross and London Hospitals, and that he had just returned from the frontâDr. Mitchell said that we had better go into another room and talk; then he told me my husband was very bad, and that I could not do better than continue with Dr. Head's treatment for himâwhen my husband came out of the Seamen's Hospital 18 months ago he had recovered from dysenteryâDr. Mitchell never came again, and I never sent for him; I trusted to Dr. Headâmy husband died on September 14thâDr. Head attended him till I sent for Dr. Hillâhe saw him frequently; if he came in thereâfour times during the day he always went in and sounded him, and felt his pulseâhe was very kind and attentiveâhe seemed to do the best he couldâI was present when Dr. Mitchell examined my husband's chest with a stethoscope, the same as Dr. Head had done, but he cut it short, and said Dr. Head was qualified, and could attend him, and left the roomâon September 13th my husband seemed to be sinking fastâI told the prisoner on September 12th that I should send for Dr. Humphreysâhe said I could send for whom I liked, but I could not get any better treatment for himâhe covered up the medicine bottles and said, "Do not tell Dr. Humphreys I have been in attendance"âI said that I certainly shouldâI sent for Dr. Humphreysâhe was not at home; I believe he was here on a caseâI then sent for Dr. Hillâthey are both in the neighbourhoodâthey are few and far betweenâin the afternoon, when Dr. Hill examined my husband, he told me he was afraid he was dyingâhis examination was the same as the others, except that he had a thermometerâDr. Mitchell had thatâDr. Hill came twice that dayâmy husband died the next morningâDr. Head was in the adjoining roomâhe came in and out, and asked how he was, and when he was in such violent pain he gave me a little phial and said, "Give him that"âit was to ease the pain, but I did not give it to him; I thought he was past thatâthe prisoner never told me there was anything wrong except lungsâI only paid him 6d.âhe asked me for money on the Friday morning, and said he could not give attendance and money; he had paid a lot of money for his educationâI said I could not give him any money, his board and lodging had done that dutyâwhen he was in at our meals he shared in themâI gave my husband the medicine the prisoner directed, except that in the phialâI emptied that away to make him think he had drunk itâI applied to Dr. Hill for a death certificate, but he refused to give me oneâI first discovered the prisoner was not a registered medical man when I went to Dr. Hill for the certificateâthese are the bottles he brought from the unfurnished roomâhe told me to go to Mitchell, the chemist, to get them made up.

JAMES WRIGHT HILL , M.B.C.M. I am a registered medical practitioner at 170, Elizabeth Street, North WoolwichâI first saw the deceased on September 13th at 2.30âI thought he was dyingâhe was collapsed, and almost pulselessâhe was consciousâhe complained of pain in the abdomenâI saw him again about 7 p.m.âI thought he would not live many hoursâhe was almost unconscious; the extremities were coldâthe widow came the next morning for a certificate of deathâwhen I

first went I took his pulse, which was slackâI did not know the cause of death, and I did not think I ought to give a certificate, as I might he covering an unqualified manâI heard he was unqualifiedâI made a postmortem examination on September 16thâthe cause of death, in my opinion, was the formation of an abscess in the abdomen, overlying the right, kidney, setting up peritonitis as a secondary cause, and death followed from simple exhaustionâthe abscess had been forming for at least a fortnight; it was as large as a cocoanut, containing at least 10oz. of pusâa competent medical man should have discovered pus at least a week before I saw the deceasedâI do not think the swelling would have been detected when Dr. Head was called inâthe inflammatory symptoms, the temperature, and everything pointed to, and would make one look for, the presence of pusâwhen once formed it could not be mistaken for anything elseâif I had examined the abdomen on September 10th I should have diagnosed the presence or absence of pusâthe swelling would be elasticâthe proper treatment was immediate operat onâthere was no evidence to show there had been dysenteryâthe symptoms Mrs. Guery describes would indicate intestinal congestionâthe Medical Officer of the Seamen's Hospital has no such recordâhe was treated for phthisis and inflammation of the elbowâI should have recommended immediate operation, the only thing that could have saved the man's lifeâit would have prolonged it by causing an abatement of the symptomsâthere was nothing to lead me to think there was any connection between the abscess I found and the tuberculosisâI should not be surprised at symptoms in the other portions of the bodyâthe left lung contained numerous deposits of tubercle, and the lung was quite adherent to the pleura, indicating some old standing pleurisyâthe right lung contained a few tubercular depositsâthey were not so large as those of the leftâthere were not 12; that is a mistakeâthe state of the left lung was confined to the apexâboth lungs were in a state of passive congestion, due to stagnation, as in the case of a person remaining in bed several days, which will induce slow circulation and set up passive congestion as distinct from active congestion, which has acute and inflammatory symptomsâthere was no breaking downâin the prescription the five grains of Dover's powder contained a small quantity of opiumâthat would relieve the painâthen he prescribed five grains of quinine, which would reduce the temperatureâthat was all right, if he had kept to that treatmentâfor abdominal treatment the wife's giving castor oil would be badâthe only relief was by opening the swellingâas to discovering the abscess, you first of all have a history of the case from the widowâthen one would take the temperatureâthat was formerly, before she thermometer was used, done as Head did it, by guess, but the doctors were educated by their sense of touch to get it better than we do by the use of a clinical thermometerâhaving localised the pain, I should have confined my research to that region, and ascertained if the swelling increasedâif I had been told the man had suffered from dysentery, it would have made me think it might have been dysenteric ulceration of the bowels, which in its early stage would probably appearâin a later stage you get inflammation and a cellular swellingâI have known a case where a man lived eight days after ulceration of the bowelsâthis might have been mistaken for ulceration of the

bowels, and a local abscess formed, giving rise to the identical symptoms the patient hadâif a man arrived at that conclusion I should not consider that criminal negligence, although he was wrongâif he had discovered dysenteric symptoms, he ought to have kept his eye or his examination directly to the part affected; if he had done so he was bound to have detected the presence of swelling sooner or laterâtalking of making one or two examinations of the stomach is nonsenseâthe man's emaciated condition would aid him to make the examinationâI thin any qualified man who made the mistake the prisoner has, would be guilty of criminal negligenceâa country practitioner might have overlooked the symptomâthe most accomplished might make a mistakeâthen the postmortem examination discloses something differentâthe effect of having diarrhâoea would be an effort of the system to get rid of it, to overcome the inflammatory symptomsâthe bottles produced contain nothing good or illâI gave him a pill to ease the painâan operation only would have prolonged his lifeâhe was not a good subject for an operation.

ARTHUR PEARSON LUFF , M.D., F.R.C.P. I am Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence in St. Mary's Hospital. I have read the depositions in this caseâI heard the last witness's evidenceâthe deceased's death, in my opinion, was due to a large abscess formed at the extremity of the right kidney, that led to blood poisoning, and that to general failure of strength and deathâthe symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain would point to abdominal trouble, and indicate a necessity for a careful examination of the abdomenâa competent medical man would be able to discover abscess within a few days of August 31st, by September 5th, or certainly by September 7thâassuming abscess had been detected or suspected, there was absolutely no treatment but operationâa careful examination of the abdomen ought to have been made by the hands by percussion, or tapping of the fingers of one hand over the fingers of the other, by which you detect what is called the dull note over the abscessâthat should be done daily, if not twice a dayâtwice a day is usual when we suspect abscessâan average medical man of 20 years' standing ought not to have missed itâit would be unskilful treatment for an average medical man to have missed an abscess of that size and in the locality where it is easily detectedâemaciation would render detection much easier; the only difficulty is in very fat subjectsâthe result of the operation would have prolonged life, and most probably would have saved itâdeath at the operating table was unlikely; the abscess was in no vital part, though an operation is better performed at an hospitalâthe prisoner ought to have taken the temperature; that alone would have put him on the track of the abscessâthe fact that the temperature was not taken was the greatest piece of negligence; and, secondly, there was no daily examination of the abdomenâI saw the copy of the prescription with the depositionsâI think it is shocking that, without knowing the condition of the kidneys, that a dose of opium should have been givenâno qualified medical man would dream of giving itâa perinephritic abscess can be discovered before deathâa number of them nave been operated upon, and the patient recovered.

Cross-examined by the prisoner. The dose was not the maximum; no duly qualified medical man would give anything like the maximum dose

without ascertaining whether the kidneys are diseasedâif they are diseased, in all probability it would kill himâa qualified mail would never give a dangerous drag without knowing the condition of the kidneys; to give 20 minims doses is absolutely wrong practice.

GEORGE ALVRIE MITCHELL , M.B.C.M. I live at 20, Albion Street, HullâI am a medical practitioner and locum tenens to Dr. Macdonogh, of 441, North Woolwich Roadâon September 14th I was called, to 123, North Woolwich RoadâI arrived about 7 p.m.âMrs. Guery and one or two people were sitting in the kitchenâI rode up on a bicycle, and pushed it into the kitchenâI was taken into the bedroom where the deceased was lyingâthe prisoner came into the roomâhe said, "I am Dr. Head"âI said, "Have you been waiting to meet me?"âhe said, "No, I live here "âI said, "Are you a qualified medical man?"âhe said, "I am an M.R.C.S., England"âI had no idea anybody was in attendance, or what the case wasâbe began a rambling statement; I could not follow him; he kept going from one thing to anotherâI proceeded to examine the deceased's chestâthe prisoner kept talking, so I could not make an examinationâI gave up, and began to move towards the door, intending to withdraw from the case, as I understood another medical man was in attendanceâI withdrewâI saw no prescriptions, but the prisoner had papers in his hands which he kept shuffling about like a lot of cardsâat the, time I withdrew I believed he was a duly qualified medical manâI did not examine the abdomen because I stopped my examinationâI did not hear Dr. Head read his treatment, nor say to Mrs. Query, "Your husband is very bad; you cannot do better than, continue Dr. Head's treatment"âI said to her, "Your husband seems very bad"âshe said "I am thoroughly satisfied with what Dr. Head has done"âI said, "Very well, you have a fully qualified medical man in attendance; you had Better continue with him"âwhat Mrs. Query said is incorrect.

Cross-examined. I said, "Well, Mrs. Query, you called for me; I value my time; I must charge for a special visit," and I charged 5s.âske did not say, "I think 1s. 6d. is quite enough"âshe seemed to think 5s. over-muchâsite did not suggest some other sumâI got no sumâdoctors charge in the East End 1s. to 5s. or 10s.âI am sure you mentioned that you were an M.R.C.S., England.

GEORGE EDWARD HILLEARY . I live at Bleak House, StratfordâI am His Majesty's Coroner for the County Borough of West HamâI held an inquest on the body of Michael Guery on September 17th, 1901âa summons was issued for the prisoner's attendance on September 23rd, 1901âhe did not attendâhe was arrested on October 3rd, 1901âhe gave evidence after being duly cautionedâI read it to him; the first of the three pages I handed to himâ(Read: "I am an unqualified medical assistant. I have had 41 years' experience, 21 dispensing, and 20 as a dentist. I put up board produced at No. 20, Barwood Road. I am not a registered dentist. I have only been at Barnwood Road four days. On Thursday, September 12th, I went to North Woolwich Road, and saw deceased. He was very bad. Both lungs were blocked. I discovered that with my stethoscope. Left was perfectly solid. Right was better than the left. Pulse was very feeble, and heard too. Temperature I gussed at 100. I gave him prescriptions mentioned in paper produced

(signed). My opinion is that the man had phthisis. His wife told me he had been drinking. I examined the stomach, and found in places on the right hand side it hurt the patient. I ordered mustard poultices, and thought he was going to have peritonitis. I have never seen a case of perinephritic abscess, and do not think it would be discovered until after death. I have made hundreds of postmortem examinations. I showed Dr. Mitchell the prescriptions; I have shown the Jury. I was not half drunk at the time. Dr. Mitchell came. In return for treatment of the deceased I received board and lodging. I did not tell either Mrs. Guery or Dr. Mitchell that I was an M.R.C.S. I told Mrs. Query that I had been with Dr. Moir 20 years. I did not tell her that I was unqualified. I do not remember that Dr. Mitchell asked me whether I was qualified; I certainly did not make the answers he suggested. I was so bad with my own eyes that I was glad to have another medical man. I examined the abdomen on the first visit, and I was in attendance on the deceased for a week. I only made one or two examinations of the stomach. I thought his trouble was all lungs. My examination was very careful. The patient complained of pain in his stomach. The medicine was always the same. I got my medicine from Mitchell, the chemist. I thought my medicine was doing him good. He got up and had his trousers on. I never detected the presence of an abscess. There was no external enlargement. The man was terribly emaciated. Stomach at no time was distended. I do not think I could have discovered presence of abscess until after death. I should say left lung might clear up. I personally never operate. If I had a case I should refer it to the hospital. I am capable of judging whether an operation is necessary. I never dreamt of an operation in this case. I never took his temperature. I have not had one for eight months.")âDr. Moir was a medical man in practice in the parishâI do not think he has been there for some years.

NORMAN CAREW KING . I am a clerk at the General Medical Council Office, 299, Oxford Street, LondonâI have made a search in the Official Medical Registerâthe defendant is not, and never was, a registered medical practitionerâI have made a similar search in the Official Dentists' RegisterâI find he has never been registeredâhe could be proceeded against under the Medical Act for practising without a licence if he holds himself out to be a doctor.

Cross-examined. You wrote as a dentist in 1869, not as a medical man, but the Dentists Act was not passed till 1878âdentists then in bond fide practice would be recognisedâthat has nothing to do with the Medical Register.

EMMA LDXFORD . On a Saturday morning in September last I saw the prisoner because I had windy indigestionâhe gave me some medicineâit made me very badâthis is his writingâI noticed him write "Dr. Head" on the top, but did not notice the directionâ(This was "Dr. A. W. Head, 123, Forth Woolwich Road, and Clyde Road").

GEORGE MELLISH (Detective Officer). After the proceedings before the Coroner I charged the prisoner with the manslaughter of Michael Gueryâhe made no reply.

The prisoner's statement before the Magistrate: "I did not recognise the abscess. I thought it was phthisis. I did not think there was an abscess

of the liver, as there was no enlargement of the liver whatever. Dr. Mitchell was called in, a qualified medical man, and he never recognised it, and did precisely the same thing as I did."

The prisoner, in his defence, stated that he never said, and that his board did not state that he was a qualified doctor; that he did his best for the deceased, and obtained his drugs from Mitchell's, a chemist, in Victoria Dock Road.

NOT GUILTY .

TheJURYwished to have it put on record that no effort should be spared to make it impossible for unqualified men to jeopardise the safety and health of the public by indiscriminate treatment.

768. HENRY TAYLOR (22) PLEADED GUILTY to feloniously uttering 10 forged postal orders, each for the payment of 1s. 6d., and CHARLES ROBSON (20) and EDWARD JONES (22) to being accessories to the said uttering; ROBSON and JONES also to receiving 110 printed forms of postal orders, the property of the Postmaster-General, knowing them to have been stolen; ROBSON and JONES also to forging and uttering a postal order for the payment of 2s.; ROBSON having been convicted at Bristol as Charles Jacksonon October 10th, 1899. Seven other convictions were proved against him. Eighteen months' hard labour.JONES to a conviction, of felony at West Ham on April 17th,1896. Thirteen other convictions were proved against him. Eighteen months' hard labour. TAYLOR, Discharged on recognizances. âAnd

WILLIAM HALLETT . I am an engineer, of 14, Webb Street, Plaistowâon Sunday, September 22nd, about 10.20 p.m., I was standing outside the Peacock public-house in Freemason's Road with a Mr. LevickâI saw about 60 persons at the corner of the street, about 12 yards offâI saw a man pushed down, and heard Thomas say, "Don't you think it is a shame to shove a man down like that?"âthe prisoner said, "I will serve you the same," and shoved him downâhe struck him in his faceâhe stood out and punched himâI saw three men kicking himâI jumped on a 'bus and went homeâthey appeared to have been talking as friendsâthey were sober.

Cross-examined. I heard a mamsay, "The idea of you talking to my wife like that"âtwo ladies were there.

990 GREEN, Mayor.

WILLIAM LEVICK . I am a shunter, of 119, Freemason's Road, Custom HouseâI was in the Freemason's Road on this Sunday night, and saw a man knock another downâThomas said, "I think it is a shame to knock a man down like that"âthe prisoner said, "You can have the same," and knocked him downâhe hit him with his fist, and he fell flat on his back, and his, head went on the pavement with a hard bangâI am sure Thomas was soberâI think the prisoner was soberâThomas was carried awayâhe was picked up by, I think, two or three men.

HARRIETTE MARIA THOMAS . I am the wife of Edward Thomas, of 42, Borough Roadâhe was a dock labourerâhis age was 37âon Sunday, September 22nd, he was sober when he left home about 7 p.m.âbetween 10.30 and 10.45 p.m. he was brought home by two or three men unconsciousâI sent for a doctor, who examined himâhe had a bad cut on his forehead, which was bleeding, and a lump on the back of his head, and blood came from his earâhe remained unconscious and in bed till September 25th, when he was taken to the infirmaryâon the 26th I saw him at the Asylum at Dagenhamâhe knew meâI have seen him three times a weekâhe is getting on nicely, I believe.

ERNNEST VALLENCE . I am Medical Officer at West Ham Union InfirmaryâI saw Thomas on September 25thâhe was suffering from acute maniaâhe had a bruise on his forehead, and several bruises on different parts of his body, legs, and armsâthe wound on his face might have been caused by a blowâthere was no bump or fracture on the back of his headâconcussion of the brain is possible without a surface woundâa bump might soon disappearâI ordered his removal to the infirmary, and the next day, the 27th, he was removedâbe was in a state of manis, and could not control himselfâthere were no old bruisesâI considered they were done by himselfâthere could be concussion of the brain by his head having knocked against the pavement, without the skull being fractured.

WILLIAM READER HANBURY . I am Medical Attendant at Dagenham lunatic Asylum, Shadwell Heath, EssexâThomas was brought in on September 27thâhe was extreme y weak, and had a bruise on his forehead over his left eye, and bruises on his body, legs, and armsâhe was suffering from acute mania, and was restless and uneasyâhe was put to bedâhe remained in a state of acute mania a couple of daysâthen the effect of the blow was going offâhe is still in the Asylumâhe is convalescent, though very weak, and hardly able to walkâhe may not be able to work again, though he may get right mentally.

ARTHUR FENNER (243 K). About 7.10 on, September 27th I was, in plain clothes at Plaistow Railway Station, and saw the prisonerâI said, "You know who, I am?"âhe replied, "Yes; is the, man dead?"âI said, "No; I want to take you into custody for assaulting the man Edward Thomas Sunday evening, the 22nd"âhe, said, "All right"âon the way to the station he said, "I admit I hit him; we was having a game of 'tip it' he was playing two farthings; we got outside had a word or two, and I struck him"âwhen the charge was read to him at the station he said, "I admit hitting him."

Prisoner's defence: I was playing tip it with coins, when one man accused the other of cheating and one, man knocked the other down, and it him. GUILTYof a common assault .â Three months' hard labour.

WALTER LEPINE . I am a builder, of 22, College Street, Homertonâon October 7th, about 3.15, I was walking up High Street, Stratford, picking a walnut, and when opposite the Chemical Works I saw the prisoners linked hand-in-handâEvans got in front of me, and Tavner behindâI felt a tug at my watch chain, and immediately turned and punched Evans on his mouthâI was wearing a gold chain, and a silver watch was in my pocketâI had on a small coat, the same as this, and this overcoat, with the top button buttonedâwhen I struck the man on the face the chain (Produced) was hangingâit had been drawn though the buttonholeâthe watch could not be got because it was pinned insideâTavner came up in a fighting attitudeâI received a blow from Evans on the side of my headâI was trying to protect myselfâTavner said, "I don't think we shall be able to do it; give him the upper cut," and I received a tremendous blow on the left cheekâI do not know whether he fell, or I tripped him upâEvans was kneeling down when the police came and took them into custodyâmy face was bleeding, and I was excitedâthe constable said, "What is it?"âthey were taken to the stationâthey were sober, and so was I.

Cross-examined byMR. WARBURTON. I am fairly muscular and taller than the prisonersâthe thoroughfare is a crowded one, but not that afternoonâthere was a lot of traffic in the roadâmy undercoat was buttonedâTavner was not partly drunk, and did not run against meâthey were angryâI never saw Evans take off his coatâI had Â£9 and the watch upon me, which were left intactâthe chain cannot come oft the watch without using a pair of, pliersâit was put on four years ago by a watchmakerâit has not been brokenâI said before the Magistrate, "I was in no doubt about charging them; I said to the police, 'Take those two men'"âafter we had got three or four yards I told one constable the charge.

JOHN HAROLD . I am a carpenter, of 125, Shrewsbury Road, forest Gateâabout 3.15 p.m. on Monday, October 7th, I was in High Street, StratfordâI saw the prisoners when I was opposite the Chemical Works, on the other side of the road, knocking the prosecutor aboutâI tried to get across the road, but could not on account of the traffic at firstâwhen I got across the police came up and took themâI saw them striking at the prosecutor.

Cross-examined by Evans. I did not see you take your coat off.

HERBERT LUCY (310 K). I was on duty in Stratford High Road about 3.15 p.m. on October 7thâI saw people running towards Howard's factory, and followedâI saw the prisoners, and the, prosecutor with his Chain hanging downâthe prosecutor said, "I wish to give these two men into custody for attempting to steal my watchand chain, also for assaulting me"âhe had marks on both cheeksâI took the prisoners into custodyâthey were soherâEvans had his coat off.

Cross-examined byMR. WARBURTON. I have made inquiries about themâthey bear good charactersâthey were returning from workâthey are employed regularlyâthe thoroughfare is crowded at all timesâthat

time was about the busiestâI was on fixed point duty on the other sideâI could see the people running across.

THOMAS BOBRITT (K 278). I went with Lucy to where the crowd collectedâI took Evans to the stationâLepine said he had attempted to snatch his watch, and had assaulted him by striking him on his faceâEvans said, "Yes, and the bââlââsââI would hit him again"âhe had no coat on.

Cross-examined byMR. WARBURTON. His coat was brought onâthe prisoners have excellent charactersâthey work at fishmongers' shopsâEvans was wearing a light shirt.

JOHN PATTERSON (K 84). I was in charge of the station when the prisoners were brought in and chargedâEvans feigned being drunk; he fell against the dockâI took the charge of larceny from the person and violently assaulting the prosecutorâEvans said, "I did push up against him; he hit me, and I hit him back"âTavner said, "I did not hit him; I merely fell against him."

Cross-examined byMR. WARBURTON. I did not notice any smell of drinkâthere was a smell of fishâI have made inquiries of three employers, who are willing to take the men back.

TAVNER, in his defence, on oath, said that he was sober, but Evans was drunk, and they were walking arm in arm, when Evans lurched against the prosecutor, who struck Evans in the face, and there was a quarrel; that he never said, "I cannot do it myself; give him the upper cut." EVANS, in his defence, on oath, confirmed this, and added that he struck the prosecutor in self-defence.

NOT GUILTY .

773. The said WILLIAM TAVNER and HENRY EVANS were again indicted for assaulting Walter Lepine, and occasioning him actual bodily harm.

MR. PETER GRAIN, for the Prosecution, offered no evidence.

NOT GUILTY .

KENT CASES.

Before Mr. Justice Bigham.

774. JOHN PRICE (46), was indicted for and charged on the Coroner's Inquisition with the wilful murder of Barbara Price.

MR. CHARLES MATHEWS andMR.BODKINProsecuted, andLORD

COLERIDGEandMR. ELLIOTTDefended.

EDWARD BRENNON (15 R) produced and proved x plan of the kitchen and canteen at the Drill Hall, Woolwich.

MARY HISCOCK . I live at 82, Ann Street, PlumsteadâI was engaged by the prisoner to act as cook at the Drill Hall at Woolwich, my father being employed as waiter thereâI was first there in October, 1899âat that time the deceased was there in residenceâshe left in December, 1899âI left before she didâI was re-engaged to perform the same service in July, 1901âthe prisoner was then living at the Drill Hall aloneâat the beginning of September I heard that the deceased intended to return, and she did return on Saturday, September 14th, from Eastbourne,

where she, had been in serviceâI do not know if the prisoner and the deceased occupied the same bedroom for the first few days, but they were on very good termsâI did not see anything to show that there was other than good feeling till Friday, September 20thâon that day I arrived at the canteen at 7.30 a.m.âI did not sleep thereâbetween 9.30 and 10 a.m. I heard the prisoner and his wife quarrellingâshe said she wanted to send out for some groceries, and he said she wanted it to give to her sonâduring the day they did not seem to get friendly at allâI used to go away about 1 p.m. and come back about 3.30 p.m.âI did not return till 5.30 that afternoonâthey were still on strained termsâmy father asked the prisoner if he had been up in the officers' dressing-roomsâhe said, "No", but he thought he knew who hadâwhen I come back at 5.30 the prisoner asked me if I had opened the dressing-room windowsâI said, "No", and he went into the kitchen and asked the deceased what she meant by telling him a lieâhe said she had no business to go to the dressing-rooms, as they were nothing to do with herâshe paid she would go if she likedâhe paid, if she did, he would put her outâshe said that, as he had asked her to come back, she intended to stayâthe dressing-rooms are used at all times of the day; the windows are supposed to be shut on account of the swordsâthere was a discussion on the Saturday about the deceased cleaning the brass plate outside the door; the prisoner said his wife wanted to see a man out there, and not to clean the plateâon the Friday evening I stayed there till about 9.30; they did not seem to get any more friendly before I leftâthe next morning I returned about 7.30 a.m.; they did not seem any different when I saw them togetherâabout 9.30 a Mr Tricker brought some rather large pieces of furniture; I opened the door for him, and he asked for Mrs. MillsâI asked him to go up to the canteen door; he went up, and I think my father opened the doorâI heard the prisoner say he would not have the furniture brought in; Mrs. Price said she would have them brought in the Drill Hall way, as she had bought and paid for itâI think it was taken awayâwhen it had gone I went into the billiard-roomâI heard voices in the kitchen as if they were quarrelling; I could not hear what was saidâas I was going through the dining-room I heard the prisoner say, "I will stick this through you," and I heard the rattle of a sword, as if it was being put back into a scabbard; that was about 9.45 a.m.âI had seen a sword in its scabbard in the bar just outside the kitchen the previous dayâI went into the kitchen; the deceased was talking to me, and the prisoner told me not to take any notice of her, as she was a bad woman, and would make me as bad as she was herselfâthe deceased said she knew she had done wrong by going away, but she was sorry for itâI was going home just after 10 a.m.; that is not my usual time to go homeâI went into the kitchen to clean some silver, and the prisoner asked me to get him some soap to wash with; I told him there was none downstairs, but I would get him someâhe said he would go upstairs and washâhe went up, and after a short time he came down, carrying a rifleâhe sat with it at the bottom of the stairs leading to the kitchenâthe deceased was in the kitchenâthe prisoner said to me so that she could hear, "If it was not for studying you, Mary, I would shoot Mrs. Price"âthe deceased said, "Don't study Mary; do it"âhe said, "All right"âhe took the sight cap offâhe was about to put the rifle to his shoulder,

and I ran in between themâMrs. Price screamed and ran out into the porch leading to the kitchenâI was standing just beside the stairs when I ran between them; we were all in the kitchenâthe prisoner went into the bar then with the rifleâI do not know what he did with itâI went home about 11.30 a.m.; I did not hear anything more between themâI returned just before two, as the prisoner sent for meâI found the deceased sitting in the kitchen crying; the prisoner was in the barâI did not hear them speakâI did not notice the rifle after my returnâthe prisoner went upstairs from 2 till about 3.30âthe deceased was downstairs during that time, getting tea ready in the kitchenâwhen the prisoner came down I went out for about 20 minutes; I returned about 4 o'clockâI did not hear anything between themâabout 5 o'clock the prisoner told me to go homeâI said I would stop and help Mrs. Price wash upâshe said, "You need not stop"âthe prisoner said I was to go home and he would do the washing up himselfâabout that time two teas were ordered for the officers' messâMrs. Price said she could manage them herselfâthe prisoner said, "You stay, Mary, and see my teas are sent in"âMrs. Price and myself got them ready, and I told the prisoner they were readyâhe said, "Your father will take them in, Mary"âmy father took them inâMrs. Price wanted to hand the tray to father; I asked her to let me hand it, as I knew what a jealous man the prisoner was; Mrs. Price pushed past me and gave it to fatherâthe prisoner was jealous of any manâhe looked very unpleasantly at my father thenâI asked him what he looked like that for, and said, "Do you think my father is the attraction"âhe said, "It is not your father's fault, Mary; it is Mrs. Price's"âMrs. Price and I remained in the kitchen, and the prisoner went outside the kitchen door; he could hear what was saidâMrs. Price said, "Don't upset yourself, Mary; he is not worth it"âthe prisoner said, "Ain't I? I will soon make short work of you"âI was standing by the dresser, and Mrs. Price was standing by the table, with her back to the fire-place, and sideways to the canteenâI had heard the name Williams mentioned in the morning by the prisonerâI do not think I heard what was said; I only heard the nameâit was after the affair of the swordâI heard Mrs. Price say, "You promised me when I came back you would not mention that name"âI did not hear him say anything after thatâabout five minutes after the prisoner had said to his wife, "I will make short work of you," and while we were standing in the kitchen I heard a shotâMrs.Price screamed, reeled back, and fell down by the gas stoveâI screamed, and ran out into the canteenâI did not see anybody thereâI fainted thenâwhen I came to, I was sitting in the corporal's room.

Cross-examined. The deceased came back because the prisoner desired itâI heard that Mrs. Price went away with Williamsâwhen she came back she wasto take over the cooking; she had nothing to do with the officers' quarters; I was to do themâduring the whole of the last two days they were perpetually at oddsâshe answered the prisoner back when he spokeâI know the prisoner's sonâhe was there on the Friday; he came in about 9 or 9.30 a.m.âI saw Him there on Saturday; he came about 9.30 a.m.âI knew nothing about the furniture till it was deliveredâI heard the prisoner say that it was unknown him that it had been orderedâI did not hear the prisoner come into the kitchen on the Friday

morning, and ask his son what he wanted 1s. forâI did not hear anything that young Price saidâthe prisoner came into the kitchen, and said he would not give the deceased the shilling she wantedâthe interval between the last conversation and the firing of the rifle was about five minutesâI was standing by the dresser in the kitchen rolling up an apron during that five minutesâthe prisoner was sitting outside the kitchenâI could not see himâMrs. Price was washing upâif she had looked round she could have seen himâshe was never violentâI did not hear anything said during that five minutes.

Re-examined. This is a plan of the kitchen in the canteenâthis is the dresser I was standing byâI had seen Williams at Woolwich after the return of Mrs. Priceâthe canteen is at the headquarters of some Volunteersâthe officers came there during September before 6 p.m.

CHARLES HISCOCK . I am father of the last witness, and am a waiter at this Drill HallâI was engaged by the Canteen CommitteeâI served under the prisonerâI knew him and his wife when they lived there togetherâI remember Mrs. Price going away and then coming backâthey seemed all right after her return on September 14th up to September 20thâI did not hear them having words on the FridayâI was there at times during FridayâI was there on the SaturdayâI heard words between them about 11.30 a.m. about the delivery of some furnitureâI heard the deceased say, "You have got me back now, and you will have to keep me, the last time I went away I went with nothing; the next time I mean to go with something"âthat took place between 9.30 and 10 a.m.âthe prisoner said, "Go away, or I will push you away," or words to that effectâshe said, "I dare you, I defy you"âthat same morning the prisoner said to me, "I am sure I shall shoot her, Charlie; I am sure I shall"âI told him not to talk so foolishlyâthat was about an hour and a half after the dispute over the furnitureâabout 5 p.m. on the Saturday I told the prisoner two teas were wanted for the officersâhe said, "All right; take them in; Mary will get them ready"âmy daughter soon afterwards came and told him they were ready, and he told me to go and get themâI got them and took them into the mess-roomâwhen I left the kitchen the deceased and my daughter were thereâI went from the mess-room into the barâI saw the prisoner sitting on some boxesâa sergeant came in and asked me for some moneyâI did not leave the barâI heard the report of a rifle about two or three minutes after I had seen the prisoner sitting on the boxesâI did not hear any voices between the time I went into the bar and the shotâwhen I heard the shot I was going to get over the counter, when my daughter came inâshe said, 'He has shot Mrs. Price"âI went into the kitchen and found Mrs. Price lying thereâI went to the door of the dining room and told the officers that Mrs. Price was lying in the kitchen shotâI believe the prisoner was in the dining-room, but I did not see himâshortly after the police came on the scene.

WILLIAM STANDING . I live at 7, Vincent Street, Canning Townâthe deceased was my sisterâI believe she married the prisoner in 1878, but I was in India thenâI used to visit them at the canteenâthe last time I saw them before September 21st was about the second week in July at the canteenâon September 21st. I got two telegramsâthe first came about 2.30 p.m., while I was at work, and the second

about 5.30 p.m.âI had just got homeâin consequence of the second one I went at once to the Drill Hall at WoolwichâI got there about 6.40âI went into the barâI had not been there a minute before I heard the report of a gunâthe servant came running out, and I saw my sister lying down in the kitchenâI saw the prisoner in the officers' messâI said to him, "Hulloa, Jack, have you finished her at last?"âhe turned round and said, "I have found out a lot since I saw you last"âI have never spoken to the prisoner sinceâ(The first telegram was:)"Come at once, I am at canteen. SISTER."The second:"I am at the canteen; come to night. SISTER.")

HENRY JAMES NORMAN . I am a schoolmaster, of 64, Jervis Road, Plumstead, and am a captain in the Royal West Kent Volunteersâour headquarters are at this Drill Hall at WoolwichâI was there on September 21stâabout 6 30 p.m. I heard a shot; I went into the kitchen and saw the prisoner there with a rifle, with smoke coming from it, in his handâI said, "What have you done, Price?"âhe said, "I have shot my wife; she compelled me to do it"âI took the rifle from him, and then went into the bar in consequence of some screaming which I heard thereâI went back to the kitchen, and saw Mrs. Price lying on the groundâshe died in the course of a few minutes.

Cross-examined. The prisoner was at camp this yearâhe is a notoriously well-behaved man, and much trusted in the regimentâI have known him since FebruaryâI do not know how long he has been known in the regimentâI was transferred from one battalion to another last FebruaryâI remember when he was attached to the canteen in 1899, but I was only a casual visitor to the mess thenâI know why he resigned in December, 1899; it was because of the awkward position he was in with regard to his wife, and because she had run awayâI saw him after September 14thâhe seemed to me to be labouring under some troubleâwhen I spoke to him he seemed to have something preying upon him.

THOMAS CHAPMAN (314 R). At 6.30 p.m. On September 21st I was called to the Drill Hall, where I found the prisoner detained by the officers of the corpsâI took charge of himâhe said, "It is all right constable; I did it, and I won't put you to any trouble; I did it with a rifle"âhe handed me this loaded cartridge (Produced)) and said, "I did it with one like that"âI saw this rifle (Produced)) in a corner of the mess-roomâI took possession of itâthe prisoner said, "That is the one I did it with."

Cross-examined. He was very nervous and excited when I arrested him, and his mouth was twitching.

CHARLES LANGTREE (Inspector, R). About 6.45 p.m. on September 21st I went to the Drill Hall, Beresford Street, Woolwich, and saw the deceased lying on the floor of the kitchenâthe prisoner was in the officers' mess-room, detained by ChapmanâI told him I was going to take him into custody for murdering his wife by shooting her; I cautioned himâhe said, "I shot my wife to-night about half an hour ago; we have been separated 18 months; she came back to live with me about a week ago"âI saw the rifle, and had the magazine examined; it contained this empty cartridgeâthe prisoner was taken to the station and charged; he made no replyâI searched him; in taking his belt off, he said, "You need not be frightened of me, Sir; I will see it through now."

HARRY MORTIMER WISE . I am a medical man, of 23, Plumstead RoadâI was called to the Drill Hall on the evening of September 21st, where I saw the body of the deceasedâI examined her, and next day made a postmortem examinationâI found a bullet wound, which was the cause of deathâit lacerated the heart in part of its passageâI also found this nickel case (Produced) in the bodyâthe shot was not fired sufficiently close to leave any mark on the body.

FREDERICK UNDERDOWN . I live at 12, Denham Road, Plumstead, and am a machinist and a private in the 3rd West Kent Volunteersâon September 7th I was rifle shooting with the prisoner at Gravesendâon my return I left my rifle with him at the Drill Hallâit was unloadedâthis is the rifle.

Cross-examined. It was the annual competitionâI shoot on the average about nine shoots a yearâI think September 7th was the fourth time this yearâit is my habit to unload my rifle before leaving the ground, and I have no doubt that I followed my usual course on September 7th.

HENRY HOLFORD . At 9 p.m. on September 21st I went to the prisoner's quarters at the Drill HallâI found these five cartridges in a drawer in the top room (Produced))âI also found some letters, some of them addressed by the prisoner to his wife, and by the wife to the prisoner.

JOHN JAMES MURPHY . I am a major in these Volunteers, and live at Plumstcadâin December, 1898, the prisoner came to the canteen as steward, and his wife as cookâhe remained till December, 1899; then he left and returned in February, 1901âhis wife made application to come back, and she was allowed to do so on condition she did not go into the barâon September 7th the prisoner would presumably be served out with 24 cartridges, but being a sergeant, he would take three packets, which would be 30âhe fired 24 in the course of a competition on that dayâthis is the ammunitionâthe nickel case taken from the body of the deceased is a nickel case stripped from a bullet.

Cross-examined. The prisoner has been a thoroughly honest, trust-worthy, and respectable servant while he has been in the regimentâhe was bound to be a confidential servant by virtue of his positionâhe discovered an intrigue which his wife was carrying on; he followed her and Williams one night; there was a fracas in the square, and as he was in uniform he felt he had disgraced himself, and he thought he ought to leaveâthe officers gave him a testimonial when he leftâI saw his wife as a servant about the placeâI do not know if she was a temperish woman, except what I heardâthere were occasions when Williams was in the barâhe is a bandsman in the corps, and was in the habit of using the canteenâon one or two occasions officers have been sent for by the prisoner to make peace between themâI have charge of the prisoner's accountsâI know he was worried over themâwhile we were in camp he undertook the duty of mess steward, and also the responsibility of running the canteenâhe was very anxious about his money, being in open camp, and he found out towards the end of the week's camp he had lost Â£10âas he usually slept with his money on him, he concluded the money was stolen from him on the only occasion that he slept undressedâI know that was worrying him when he came backâhe met his wife at Woolwich in July, but I did not know it till this case came onâI saw him after his

wife came backâhis manner was then what I should describe as a state of tense nervousness; he never seemed comfortable; he seemed to forget things; if you sent him for two things he would bring back one; he seemed to have something on his mindâI was at the Drill Hall on September 21st about 15 minutes after this happened, but not before.

Re-examined. Williams is at Woolwich nowâhe has been dismissed from the corps; he may have come back to the quarters without my knowledge, but not as a member of the battalionâI think he was very worried domestically; he had to find a housekeeper, and while his wife was away he bâd to get anybody he could, and probably pay through the nose for their services, and at the same time he had not the comforts.

CHARLES HISCOCK (Cross-examined by) (LORD COLERIDGE). I said in my statement, "I wish to add that Mrs. Price tantalised her husband very much during the day, and frequently said he was worthless"âthat is correctâI was present when she said thatâI think my daughter was present as wellâmy daughter did not give me letters from the deceased to give to Williams.

Re-examined. I heard the deceased say the prisoner was worthless both before and after the prisoner said he would shoot herâI was upstairs on the Saturday afternoon.

MARY HISCOCK (Cross-examined by) (LORD COLERIDGK). I did not receive letters from the deceased addressed to Williams to be given to my father to give to Williams.

By theCOURT. I never received any letters from the deceased addressed to Williams.

Evidence for the Defence.

MATHEW AUDSLEY . I am sergeant-instructor of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the West Kent Regiment, stationed at WoolwichâI have known the prisoner about two years and a halfâduring the last six months I have noticed a great change in his manner and demeanourâbefore that he was always very cheerful and bright; after that he was crying, and always telling me of his troubles with his wifeâon September 21st I was in the bar about 10 a.m., and saw him thereâhe was crying on the counter of the barâhis head was on his arm, and he was sobbing very bitterlyâI put it down to his troublesâduring the last fortnight he had cried to me three or four timesâI said, "What is the matter now, John?"âhe said, "Oh! she has worried me to death"âI used to try and console him in his troubleâhe used to confide in me a great deal latterlyâhe did not give me any particular reason; I asked him the reasonâhe said, "I do not know, I do not know"âI said, "Buck up, old boy," and he did seem toget betterâI next saw him about 6.30 p.m.âI had just dismissed a class of young officersâI called for the prisoner, as I always didâhe said, "I am here"âI asked for some biscuits and cheese and a glass of aleâhis girl, as he calls her, brought themâI saw that the prisoner's eyes were bulging outâhe came from the kitchen, I believeâI then put 3d. on the counter; he would not take it; he said, "I do not want any money"âI called to the waiter who was in the bar, and said to him, "You put that 3d. in the till, and tell Price have paid you"âhe then left me, and went round to the kitchen, I think

âwhen he left the bar he seemed still to be depressed in spiritsâhe did not tell me how he felt; he could hardly speak to me.

Cross-examined. I knew the prisoner's wife was not living with him at first; she had gone from him for a little whileâI think she kept worrying him for moneyâI said to him, "Why don't you get a divorce from the woman?" his troubles were because of her claims for moneyâhe knew what sort of woman she was, as he had to keep herâit was very inconvenient for him her being away from the canteen, because he had to pay others for the work she would have doneâI know she had written to him to ask him to take her back, and he told me he had consented to do soâshe came back on the Saturday, I believe; I did not know it till the TuesdayâI occasionally went into the canteen from the Tuesday to the following SaturdayâI saw the prisoner doing his work there, but not in the same spirits as he had done it beforeâwhen I went into the canteen at 6.30 on the Saturday I did not see the prisoner sitting on some ginger beer boxesâI saw him; he seemed very strange; he was not cryingâhis voice was husky.

EDITH HAWKES . I am married, and live at 51, Brookhill Road, WoolwichâI have known the prisoner and his wife about nine yearsâI remember him when he was servant to a Captain Taylor many years agoâhe was always a well-conducted and sober manâI remember him being steward at this canteen, and his wife being cook in January, 1899âI occasionally helped themâshe was not a very good-tempered womanâthey did not have any quarrels at that timeâI remember her leaving him in December, 1899, and going to live with Williams at 14, Brookhill RoadâI was not living at 51, Brookhill Road then, I lived about 10 minutes' walk away from themâI remember the prisoner going back again to the canteen in MarchâI went to assist him as cook and housekeeperâI did not see anything of the deceased from March to July, 1901âI met her one day in the road at Woolwich; she said she had left Williams, as they had had a disagreement, and had gone to her brother, William Standing, in Canning Townâshe came to the canteen quite unexpectedly on July 3rdâI asked her what she came forâshe said, "My place is where my husband is"âI said, "Very well; you stay, and I will go; most certainly your place is where your husband is"âthe prisoner was waiting on the officers in the officers' mess; he came in, and he looked like someone who had received a great shockâwhen he saw his wife he asked her why she came, but I cannot remember her answerâshe went upstairs with himâhe asked her to leave; she said she could not go that night; she had such a dreadful bad headache; she could not go out to look for a room that nightâshe stayed there that night, and next morning she wanted to assist me in doing the work; I refused, and said I would not work with herâshe tried to cause a disturbance; she said I was only a woman, the same as herâshe went out to get a room in the neighbourhood, and she left on the evening of the 4thâshe wanted me to agree to her staying there, and not let the officers knowâI knew the officers had forbidden her thereâshe was in the bar the following Sunday with the prisonerâI did not see her, but I heard herâI left my service there as cook on July 9th on account of Mrs. Price coming to and froâthe prisoner was then in a very excited state; at

times his head was very bad, but after Mrs. Price came back it was worseâhe did not go to bed at regular hours; it was a great bother to get him to bedâI have seen him sitting in the kitchen crying at 3 a.m.âwhen he was in that state he said he thought his wife would drive him madâhe said that before and after his wife returnedâI did not see him in the street between July 3rd and 9thâhe was always a very respectable man.

Cross-examined. I do not know the prisoner's writingâI think I should know his wife's writingâthis letter (Produced) is in her writingâI do not know this other writing (Produced)â(The first letter was dated September 3rd, from Eastbourne, from the deceased, and directed to Captain Forsdyke, asking to be taken back, at her husbands request, as he could not get on without her; the second also from the deceased, dated December 10th, to the prisoner, asking if she could go back next week.)

FRANK EDWARD MILES . I live at 17, Beresford Street, Woolwichâlast September I was living at the canteen with my wife and the prisonerâmy wife was housekeeper to the prisonerâI used to help a bit now and thenâwe were not paid, we had our rooms free, and gas and coalâwe went there about July or August lastâI had known the prisoner about 12 monthsâwhen I first knew him he was bright and cheerful; I noticed a change in him when he came back from camp in AugustâI was not at Aldershotâhe was very absent-minded, and used to sit talking to himself; he used to cry a lotâthat went on till his wife came to the canteen on September 14thâthe prisoner seemed very pleased and glad when she cameâthey seemed to be on good terms with each other till Monday, the 16thâhe wanted to go out on business on Monday night, and she would not let him goâafter that the prisoner seemed to be very friendly, but the deceased did not seem to beâI did not notice any other quarrel till the Friday nightâthey had a few words, but I went out when they startedâI know he was locked out of his bedroom all Friday night by Mrs. Priceâwhen I saw him next morning, about 7.20, he seemed to have been crying all nightâI did not see him after that till 1 p.m. on Saturday in the bar, when he looked very much upsetâMrs. Price was in the kitchenâI saw him several times during the afternoonâhe said to me, "Will you look after the bar while I go and have a sleep?"âthat was about 3 p.m.âI said, "Yes, Mr. Price"âthe next time I see him was about 5.45, in the barâI did not see Mrs. Price thenâI went across to the Duke of EdinburghâI remained there till about 6.15âI saw the prisoner standing in the bar of the public-houseâI had a few minutes' talk with himâthe Duke of Edinburgh is about 60 yards from the canteenâthe prisoner looked very strange, and his eyes were very much bowedâhe asked me to have a drinkâI had a drinkâI said I was going to take my child down to its grandmother'sâhe said, "You don't want to do that; there will be nothing to upset him"âhe remained in the public-house about five minutesâI left before he didâI was upstairs when he returnedâI saw him in the canteen before the shotâhe was sitting in a chair, talking and muttering to himself; he did not speak to meâthat was the last I saw of him.

By theJURY. He could get what he wanted to drink at the canteen.

Cross-examined. He had a small port at the Duke of Edinburghâhe

did not have anything to drink at the canteen while I was thereâhe did not appear as if he had been drinkingâI was going to leave the place, and I told him soâI do not know his writing.

FREDERICK DAVIS . I keep the Duke of Edinburgh, 10 yards from the canteenâI have known Price two years and a month, coming thereâon Saturday, September 21st, about 6 p.m., he came in looking very much worriedâI asked him what was the matter; he said that he was in trouble with his wife, and had come to have a chat with meâhe left me at 6.15âI was very busy, and had no assistanceâthat was all he said, but as he left he said that he would come back later and have a chat with meâhe did not do soâI have seen him every day since his return in March, about the canteenâhe always seemed to be in trouble, something on his mind which he could not expressâI did not notice whether he drank more lately than formerlyâsince I have known him he has been a very quiet manâI knew his wife, but only knew that she was a bad womanâher badness was not confined to the man WilliamsâI have seen her acting in a very improper manner with gentlemen in my bar-parlour, and ordered her out of the house.

Cross-examined. He came to have a little conversation, but did not drink then; he afterwards had two two-pennyworths of port wineâhe evidently had been drinking when he came that evening, but not to excess.

By theJURY. He could not drink without my knowledgeâI was in the bar, and served him myselfâI do not know what he had had else-whereâI have only once seen him intoxicated in my house.

ELEANOR MILES . I became housekeeper at the canteen about the end of July, and lived there with my husbandâwe had our rooms rent freeâI had known Price about two monthsâwhen I first knew him he was a cheerful, bright sort of manâI remember his going away to Aldershot at the beginning of Augustâhe did not seem the same man when he came backâhe was not as cheerful as beforeâI remained with him down to Mrs. Price's deathâI remember her coming on December 14thâhe seemed pleased to have her back, and at first they got on very well togetherâthat lasted up till TuesdayâI was hardly in the place up to Saturdayâshe wanted a looking-glass, and I told her where she could get one reasonableâI did not know that it was being bought, or was to be delivered in my name, but there was a parcel for meâI did not know that there was a disturbance between Price and his wife about the furniture coming in my name; I did not know they were purchasedâthere was a looking-glass or over-mantel, price 17s.âMrs. Price asked me whether I had paid for itâI was sleeping in the house, and when I went down on the Saturday morning, about 8.30, Mr. Price was in the barâhe seemed very strangeâMrs. Price said something, and I asked him what it meantâhe said, "I don't know"âI saw him again about 11 o'clock in the barâhe seemed downâI was going out, and I asked him whether he wanted anythingâI went back in the middle of the afternoon, and went out again and returned, and saw him in the bar, but did not take much notice of himâI heard no conversation between him and his wifeâthat was the last I saw of him before I heard the shot fired.

Cross-examined. I was there on the Saturday morning when the

furniture came, and heard the row about itâI heard him say, "I will turn you out; you don't mark me"âafter that I saw him at the canteen doorâI went out for a timeâthere was some drink on the bar just as I was going out; it was port wineâthat was 9.30 to 10 o'clockâwhen the looking-glass came in I said, "I know nothing about it"âthat was the looking-glass which I had paid for on Friday, which I had bought for Mrs. Price the day beforeâI had got the money from her for that and some other articles of furniture, which were to go upstairs into their bedroomâhe called out that he would not have it left; Mrs. Price went to the door, and it was taken awayâin the course of the dispute he said, "I will turn you out"âafter that I saw him take the rifle from behind the canteen door and go upstairsâI then went out for a short time, and returned about 10.30âI did not partake of any drink after that in the canteenâI had some port wine at 12 o'clock, and Price had someâMrs. Price came into the bar while I was drinking, and he said, "What do you want?"âshe said, "The same as that woman has got"âhe said, "I only wish you were as good as that woman, or half as good, if you want anything, you must pay for it"âI did not see whether she got any drinkâI went out shortly afterwards, and came back in the course of the afternoonâI did not notice the rifle standing in the canteen that afternoon.

HENRY JAMES BROUGHTON . I am a publican, of the Royal Mortar Hotel, WoolwichâI have known the prisoner about three yearsâI have never been to his houseâI do not know his wifeâfor a week prior to September 21st I know the prisoner had been drinkingâwhen he was in conversation he would sometimes appear to drift away from the subjectâI did not notice anything exceptional about him during the week before the tragedyâhe was not a heavy drinker, but he drank more than most peopleâI do not know if he had anything on his mindâwe never went into private mattersâI last saw him on Friday morning, September 20th.

COLONEL CHARLES DAVIS . I am stationed at Woolwich, and am in charge of the office at the gun factory thereâI live at 172, Burridge Road, Plumsteadâuntil three years and a half ago I was Colonel-commandant of the 3rd V.B. West Kent RegimentâI am now on the staff as honorary colonelâI generally call at the officers' mess about once a weekâI happened to call there about 1.30 p.m. on September 21st to look at the illustrated papersâthe prisoner brought me in the Illustrated London Newsâhe seemed very strange; he stood at attention, and looked at me for some little whileâhe cast his eyes to the ceiling; I thought he was perfectly distrait; he seemed off his head altogetherâhe did not speakâI paid him for a small drink I had, and he brought me the change, and stood at attention again; then he took his tray up and went offâI have known him ever since he was first appointed as stewardâI had never seen him like that beforeâhe was a most efficient man in every wayâhe had a most excellent reputation with the officers and the menâI have not seen him since September 21st until to-day.

Cross-examined. I do not know if he had been drinking between September 14th and 21st; he did not appear to have been drinking on September 21st; he looked as if he had been crying, and his eyes looked all round the room.

MARY ANN DAVIS . I am the wife of Frederick Davis, the landlord of the Duke of EdinburghâI have known the prisoner two years and one month; he is a respectable manâI should say his wife had a very bad characterâI remember having a conversation with her outside the Drill Hall; I cannot remember the dateâshe said Mary Hiscock took letters to her father to give to WilliamsâI did not see the prisoner on the day of the tragedy.

JOHN GEORGE BRASH . I am sergeant-major instructor to the 3rd V.B. West Kent Regiment, stationed at WoolwichâI have known the prisoner for about three yearsâwhen I first knew him he was very cheerful and jovialâhe did not seem to have any trouble on his mind thenâI noticed a change in him in December, 1899âI heard of his family troublesâI saw him about 2.20 on September 21st at the canteen; he was sitting with his back towards the door, with his head resting on his kneeâI asked him if a man I wanted was thereâhe said No, he had gone to his dinnerâhe seemed to be broodingâhe had a haggard look about his eyesâthat was the last I saw of him till after the occurrence.

GEORGE DOUSE . I the landlord of the Gun public house at WoolwichâI noticed that the prisoner had been drinking more for about a week before September 21st than formerlyâI thought his manner was rather strangeâI was with him at the canteen on September 21st about 1 p.m., and he asked me to come back againâI said I would see him at 6 p.m.âI went down to the canteen with a friendâI thought he was very strange and impetuous; he seemed all on the shakeâup till quite lately he was a quiet fellow.

LIEUTENANT WILD . I belong to the Royal ArtilleryâI knew the prisoner intimately between 1883 and 1889âhe was an exceedingly sober and quiet manâhe is an artillerymanâcarbines are issued to the mounted branches of Artillery, and also to garrisons, but are very rarely usedâI cannot account for the prisoner being able to shoot as well as he did, as a rifle would be an unfamiliar weapon to him.

Cross-examined. I do not know if he had been in the habit of practising shooting.

EDWARD PRICE . I am the prisoner's son, and am in the 1st Depot Battery of the Royal Field ArtilleryâI joined the Army in December, 1899, because of my mother's disgraceâup to that time I had lived with the prisonerâwhen my mother lived at home she used to go out at night, and three or four nights a week I have been riding about London on my machine, looking for herâI have seen her going across Woolwich Common at 1 a.m. with another womanâafter the Williams' affair my father was desirous of resuming relations with my mother, and one night he went down on his knees to her and asked her to go on better, but she only laughed at himâletters passed between them in Septemberâhe wanted to give her another chance, and wanted to have her back, if she would mend her waysâshe constantly asked him for money, and he tried to get it for her, because he thought she might go on better, but she never didâI remember her returning on Saturday night, September 14thâwhen I saw her that night she said she had not come back to please my father, but she had come back to rob him, to get some money to send my sister to India withâmy sister was going to get married; she was in

service thenâmy mother said the last time she went she went with nothing, but next time she went she meant to go with somethingâI told my father what she had saidâI went again on Monday, and saw them againâever since I can remember she has always nagged at him; she told him on Monday or Tuesday that he was not worth her notice, and that she wished him dead, so that she could do what she likedâI went down every day that weekâmy father seemed to be worried; one night he was crying; he went upstairsâI shut the place up, and then went up after him; he was still cryingâI was there on the Saturday; I went about 9.30 a.m.; my father was in the bar, but he did not recognise meâmy mother was in the kitchen, shoutingâI said to her, "How is father going on?"âshe said, "Bother him!"âI said he had not spoken to me, but just at that time some furniture cameâmother tried to get it in through the Drill HallâI went into the bar where my father was; he was sitting on the bar, with his eyes staringâI said good-bye to him, but he did not answerâafter the terrible thing had happened the police sent for me.

Cross-examined. I wrote this letter to my mother on August 29thâshe came back on September 14th to do cook's workâshe said she was going to buy an outfit for my sister, and to rob father of the money for it, and then rob him again and leave himâthey were not on good terms on the Mondayâshe was always naggingâmy father did not appear to be drinking very heavily till the latter part of the weekâhe drank more on the Friday than he generally did, but he knew what he was doingâI do not know that he drank more than was good for him.

The prisoner, in his defence, on oath, said that he did not remember anything that occurred on the Friday or Saturday, except the recoil of the rifle after it had exploded; that he did not remember threatening his wife, or taking the rifle downstairs, or loading it; that he did not intend to shoot his wife, but that he knew he had done wrong by doing so.

JAMES SCOTT (Re-examined by) (MR. MATHEWS). I am Medical Officer at Holloway Prisonâthe prisoner was admitted there on September 23rdâsince then I have had him under my observationâI do not consider him to be insane at presentâI see no evidence that he was insane on September 21stâhe said he had little or no recollection of the events of September 21stâhe said he had a little recollection of the events of September 20th.

Cross-examined. I furnished a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions at his requestâ(This stated that when the prisoner was received at Holloway he was depressed, but not more so than one would expect under the circumstances; that he appeared to understand questions; that for the first few nights his sleep was broken, but that afterwards he slept better; that the witness detected no signs of insanity; that the prisoner's married life seemed to have been unhappy; that in December, 1899, he had proof of her infidelity, and that soon after she left him with Williams, which worried him greatly; and that at the time of this occurrence the witness did not consider the prisoner insane, or that he had been underwhilst observation.

The prisoner received a good character.

GUILTY .âStrongly recommended to mercy by theJURY.

DEATH .

SURREY CASES.

Before Mr. Justice Bigham.

775. HARRIETT HOLMES (46) was indicted for, and charged on the Coroner's Inquisition with, the wilful murder of Alfred John Holmes.

MR. CHARLES MATHEWS andMR.A. GILL. Prosecuted.

JESSIE BOOTH . I am a widow, and live at 52, Chancery LaneâI have known the prisoner and her children some little timeâher little girl, Edith Elizabeth, was about 12 years old; her boy, Alfred John, was about 10âon Saturday, September 21st, she and her two children, came to tea with me in the afternoonâshe was very fond of them, and an excellent motherâshe has more than once said that she was in great, pain, and that it was no use going to hospitals or doctors, as they could do her no goodâshe complained of pains in her back; she sometimes said that she could not sleep, and was tiredâshe gave me the impression that she was tired and ill and depressed.

CHARLES THOMAS . I am a warehouseman, of 11, Southwark StreetâI went there on September 23rd, about 8.15 a.m.âI rang the bellâthe prisoner opened the doorâI said, "Good morning"âshe said, "Good morning; the latch was on"âshe appeared as if she had slept in her dress, and to be ill.

OSCAR SUMNER . I am clerk to Low & Co., of 11, Southwark Streetâon September 23rd, about 9.40 a.m., I was in the office on the first floor, and in consequence of something I heard I went on to the landing and saw the prisonerâshe said she had murdered both her childrenâI said, "Good God! Never, Mrolmes!"âshe said, "It is too true; I told my husband he never ought to leave me"âI went for the policeâConstable Austin went with me to the third floor, and in a back room there I saw the two childrenâthey were both dead; their throats had been cutâon the table in the front room I saw an ordinary white-handled table knife, smeared with blood.

DANIEL AUSTIN (250 M). On September 23rd, about 9.15 a.m., I was called to 11, South wark StreetâI went upstairs with Mr. Sumner, and saw the prisonerâshe appeared to be very dazed and tremulous, and was holding on to the banister railsâshe said, "Oh! come up here, policeman; I have killed my two children!"âI went into the kitchen and said, "Where are the children?"âshe pointed to the bedroom opposite, and then to this knife (Produced), which was lying on the kitchen tableâthere was blood on the handleâshe said, "That is what I did it with"âthere was also a Bible and this letter on the tableâ(Read):"What about the death of my darling Nell? Darling husband! I know I am dying, and cannot leave my darlings behind. I hope they will join my darling in heaven. My darling Nell, forget me, but I am mad God be with you!"âI went into the back room and found the bodies of the two childrenâEdith's body was cold; the boy's body was warmâhis throat was also cut.

GEORGE GODLEY (Police Inspector, M). On September 23rd, about 10.10 a.m., I went to the prisoner's residence, 11, Southwark Street, and in the bedroom I saw the bodies of the two childrenâin the kitchen I saw the prisoner sitting on a chair; her hands were covered with bloodâ

I said, "Who did this?"âshe said, "I did"âshe was taken into custody.

JOHN LEWIS JACKEE . I am Surgeon of the M Division, and live at 67, Borough Roadâon September 23rd, about 10.40, I was called to 11, Southwark Street, and saw the children; life was extinct in each caseâthe girl was lying on her back, with her throat cut by a wound about 3in. long, dividing all the tissues down to the bone; she had been dead two or three hoursâthe boy also had his throat cut; the longer wound was the deeper wound; there was also a cut on the right thumbâhe had died only quite recently.

JAMES SCOTT . I am Medical officer of Holloway prisonâon September 23rd the prisoner was received there, and from that date till now she has been under my constant observationâwhen she was admitted she was very depressed; her sleep was very bad for some timeâshe has improved to some extent; her sleep now is not refreshingâthe depression is continued more or less continouslyâI have spoken to her a great deal, and she has told me a great deal about herselfâshe told me about the death of her child about seven years agoâshe said that it was a great shock to herâshe has arrived at her change of life, which is a critical period for womenâI have formed an opinion as to what was her condition of mind on September 23rd; I think she was insane, and did not know what she was doingâI think she has practically remained in that condition until now.

GUILTY, but insane, and not responsible for her actions .â To be detained during His Majesty's pleasure.

Before Mr. Recorder.

776. CHARLES BOWMAN (40) , Burglary in the dwelling house of William James Ridgway, and stealing a bicycle his property.

MR. WOODCOCKProsecuted.

WILLIAM JAMES RIDGWAY . I live at 67, New Church Road, Camberwell, and am a bookseller's assistantâon August 30th I went to bed about 11 p.m.âthe premises were securely fastenedâI was disturbed about 2.10 a.m. by a crash of something breakingâI listened a little while, then I heard a window openâI went downstairs, and went to the street door and opened itâI was confronted with another man, not the prisonerâI saw three china flower pots placed outside, and the back part of my bicycle was sticking out of a windowâI struggled with the manâwe got down as far as my garden gate, then the prisoner came out of my parlour window, from which the bicycle was protrudingâhe made for the gateâI released the other man and made for the street, as I did not want to have the two of them upon meâthe prisoner came to the gateâhe hesitated which way to runâhe then ran to Caspian Streetâthere is a urinal thereâhe made a feint, and then ran to Westmacott Streetâhe went behind the railings of No. 90âI kept calling for assistance as I ranâI had only put on my slippers and my trousersâa constable came up, and I pointed out the prisonerâhe was still lying in the garden of 90, Westmacott Street, under my observationâthe policeman arrested him, and we went back to my houseâthe entrance had been made by breaking

the window and opening the latch, bat my wife had shut the window while I was away.

Cross-examined. I knew better than to attempt to arrest you, as there were two of youâI did not lose sight of you the whole timeâanybody could have seen you while you were lying in the garden, but there was not a living soul aboutâyou were crouching about 2ft. away from the pavementâyou live quite close to meâyou would have got home if you could.

CHARLES COOK (510 P). On the early morning of August 31st I heard shouts of "Police!" in Westmacott StreetâI saw the prosecutorâhe pointed out the prisoner crouching in the forecourt of No. 90âhe rose up and said, "It is all right, governor; I am only here to do a kip"âI took him back to the prosecutor's house and then to the stationâhe used filthy language when he was charged.

Cross-examined. When I arrested you I thought you had been drinkingâyou did not point out footmarks under the prosecutor's window, and want them corresponded with your boots.

The prisoner, in a written defence, said that the prosecutor could not have seen the man who was running away all the time, owing to the turnings, and that, when he saw the prisoner lying in the garden, he thought he was the man he was after; that he (the prisoner) was not concealed at all; that he knew nothing about the affair; that he was only sleeping in the garden; that he was not a minute's walk from his own home, and was lying in the garden because he was overcome with drink.

W. J. RIDGWAY ((Re-examined). I saw the prisoner's face, and never lost sight of him the whole time.

GUILTY .âHe thenPLEADED GUILTYto a conviction of felony at Newington on November 9th, 1898, and ten other convictions were proved against him.â Five years' penal sevitude.